EMERGENCY supplies of water are being trucked in to more than 670 families in areas of Phuket that appear to be the first to fall victim to the island's ''Big Dry.''
While authorities say there is plenty of water to go around if rain falls before May 28, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mittigation has had to come to the rescue of all the residents of Moo 1-9 at Pa Klok, Moo 1-6 in Cherng Talay, Moo 1-5 in Sakoo, Moo 1-11 in Thekasattri and Moo 1-8 in Srisunthorn.
The Director of the DDPM, San Jantharawong, told Phuketwan: ''It's really an emergency because there is not enough clean water in the regular supply.''
The problem is not insufficient water, but the lack of sufficient machinery to process the water to distribution quality.
The DDPM is carrying water to the 673 families by truck and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile the Irrigation Department is spending 41 million baht on excavating large ponds near Rajabhat University and Soi Paneng in Phuket City to collect more water for Phuket's supply.
Bang Wad reservoir in central Phuket, the island's main source, has 4.5 million cubic metres, or 62 percent, while Bang Niaow Dam at Cherng Talay has 6.8 million cubic metres, or 95 percent, the Irrigation Department says.
Irrigation Department head at Bang Wad reservoir, Isara Anukul, said that 80 percent of Phuket's water came from the reservoirs and 20 percent would soon come from large ponds.
''The level of the water in the reservoirs is better than last year,'' he said. ''But with so many more people on Phuket - tourists, residents and foreign workers - everyone has to save water.''
He said global warming meant that Phuket residents might have to be much more careful in future.
Cherng Talay mayor Manoch Phanchalad said he would buy more water if he could, but supplies of water for sale would be exhausted in two months in the central Phuket area.
Patong and Karon have endured water rationing in the past.
Phuket Killer Shoots Doctor, Flees PoliceWhile authorities say there is plenty of water to go around if rain falls before May 28, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mittigation has had to come to the rescue of all the residents of Moo 1-9 at Pa Klok, Moo 1-6 in Cherng Talay, Moo 1-5 in Sakoo, Moo 1-11 in Thekasattri and Moo 1-8 in Srisunthorn.
The Director of the DDPM, San Jantharawong, told Phuketwan: ''It's really an emergency because there is not enough clean water in the regular supply.''
The problem is not insufficient water, but the lack of sufficient machinery to process the water to distribution quality.
The DDPM is carrying water to the 673 families by truck and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile the Irrigation Department is spending 41 million baht on excavating large ponds near Rajabhat University and Soi Paneng in Phuket City to collect more water for Phuket's supply.
Bang Wad reservoir in central Phuket, the island's main source, has 4.5 million cubic metres, or 62 percent, while Bang Niaow Dam at Cherng Talay has 6.8 million cubic metres, or 95 percent, the Irrigation Department says.
Irrigation Department head at Bang Wad reservoir, Isara Anukul, said that 80 percent of Phuket's water came from the reservoirs and 20 percent would soon come from large ponds.
''The level of the water in the reservoirs is better than last year,'' he said. ''But with so many more people on Phuket - tourists, residents and foreign workers - everyone has to save water.''
He said global warming meant that Phuket residents might have to be much more careful in future.
Cherng Talay mayor Manoch Phanchalad said he would buy more water if he could, but supplies of water for sale would be exhausted in two months in the central Phuket area.
Patong and Karon have endured water rationing in the past.
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And yet the golf courses and water parks seem to carry on.
When will people realise that water management is important?
Editor: Good point but perhaps misdirected. The golf courses and the waterpark source their own water and are a good example to others. Rainwater tanks should be compulsory on all new homes and installed on old ones, too.
Posted by Mr Mark on March 19, 2010 08:05