The government has warned that a dozen provinces are at risk of running out of water.
Three months of predicted drought combined with a lack of reserves may lead to shortages in tap water across provinces in the north, center and northeastern regions now through June, the National Water Resources Office announced yesterday.
The provinces are affected Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Lamphun, Tak and Uttaradit in the north; Surin and Kalasin in the northeast; and .Pathum Thani, Ayuthaya, Chai Nat and Ang Thong in the central region, office Director-General Somkiat Prajumwong told Bright TV. They also include Phetchaburi province in the west.
No warning was issued for the Metropolitan Bangkok area, but that’s no reason to be a water wastrel.
Thirteen districts in five provinces – Roi Et, Sri Saket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Trat and Chonburi – have already been declared drought-hit areas by the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.
Roads collapsed and rice fields dried up when the worst drought conditions in four decades struck Thailand in 2015.
The analysis by the Thai Meteorological Department shows lower than normal precipitation during the rainy season for most of the kingdom now through June.
All related agencies have been ordered to follow pre-established a water-shortage plan, which includes distribution of drinking water in affected areas and emergency maintenance of water distribution systems as a short-term fix. Longer-term solutions include improving water resources by increasing the capacity of tanks and reservoirs.
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