Pattaya Has Enough Water For 10 Years, Says Irrigation Department

[farangsay]

Yet more good news

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

Responding to fears of another drought next year, the Irrigation Department and the East Water Company have assured the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association (PBTA) that there is enough water for the next ten years.

Their prophetic announcement came during the PBTA’s last administrative committee meeting, held on February 14 at Green Park Resort Hotel.

Thanet Supornsahatrangsi, PBTA president said, “The drought that was experienced in 2005 was severe and seriously affected daily life and tourism. Even though presently the situation is improving, if preparations are not made the crisis could re-occur.”

Representatives from the Irrigation Department responded that the 5 reservoirs supplying Pattaya currently have total reserves of 27 million cubic meters, which is 69% of their total capacity. Before the drought in 2005, the reservoirs contained only 11 million cubic meters, or 27% of their total capacity. “So it is anticipated that for 2007-2008 there will definitely be no water shortages.”

East Water Company representatives chimed in that East Water has laid water pipes from the Bang Pakong River to Bang Phra Reservoir, which is able to feed the area with 200,000 cubic meters per day. An additional 10,000 cubic meters per day can be purchased from Sattahip to stock up water reserves at Mabprachan Reservoir.

Feed pipe systems that have either been completed or are in the works include from Dok Kray and Nong Pla Lai Reservoir to Banglamung, and from Pra Sae Reservoir in Rayong to Pattaya, which could be used during a water shortage.

Dhanee Thongprachum, manager of the regional Irrigation Department, said that in future, Pattaya’s water problems will be over as feed pipes have been laid and expanded under a support budget of 261 million baht.

Two wells are also being constructed, one at Thappraya Hill and one at Soi Khao Noi, each with a capacity of 15,000 cubic meters. However, the latter is currently involved in a land dispute with Wat Boon Samphan. Negotiations should be finalized by May.

http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd1

[Mantra]

I kayak on Mabprachan Lake a couple of times a week and in the last couple of months the water level has dropped by about 8 feet.

Mind you this time last year you could walk across it.

I don't understand why the water people say there's plenty of water but then they turn the water supply off to everyones homes.

[GreyFox2]

I kayak on Mabprachan Lake a couple of times a week and in the last couple of months the water level has dropped by about 8 feet.

Mind you this time last year you could walk across it.

I don't understand why the water people say there's plenty of water but then they turn the water supply off to everyones homes.

yes and why is the water turned off most days on wed off 10am on at 2am next day

[bazmlb]

yes and why is the water turned off most days on wed off 10am on at 2am next day

So it last for 10 years not 5 years

[suiging]

Odds on they will top up the lake for the SEA Games.

That's not to say they will release any of it for Joe Public.

[Tony Clifton]

Of course they did not take into account the number of housing estates and commercial buildings being built until then. Same old inadequate city planning.

Also, they're pumping highly polluted water from the Bang Pakong River (at it's end, where all chemicals from farming have concentrated, added with the rest of the pollutants collected all along the river, Chachoengsao, etc.) into the relatively cleaner Bang Phra reservoir. A quick fix that will hurt Bang Phra's water quality badly later on.