The estimated water levels at the four main reservoirs in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) should be adequate to last through the drought spell until June, Somjin Philuek, governor of Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), said.
The IEAT chief said the estimated level of water in the four main reservoirs supplying the EEC by the end of April was 93.9 million cubic metres, while industrial estates in the area would use around 88.5 million cubic metres. “This means we will have 13.6 million cubic metres left in these reservoirs, which should be enough until the end of the drought season in June,” she said.
The four reservoirs — Dok Grai, Nong Pla Lai, Klong Yai and Prasae — are located in Rayong province.
“The IEAT has employed water management strategies since early this year to make sure we have enough water to last the drought,” she added. “For example, in March we diverted 10 million cubic metres of water from Prakaed reservoir in Chanthaburi province to Prasae reservoir, as well as water from Rayong River to Nong Pla Lai reservoir at 100,000 cubic metres per day in case there were rains in Rayong areas.
“Meanwhile, Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate was advised to use water from Nam Hu canal at 50,000 cubic metres per day to reduce its reliance on Nong Pla Lai reservoir.”
She said the IEAT also asked entrepreneurs in Map Ta Phut Complex, which includes Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, WHA Industrial Estate, Asia Industrial Estate, IRL Industrial Estate and Map Ta Phut Industrial Port, to reduce their water usage by 10 per cent. “As a result, average water usage in March is at 392,205 cubic metres per day, down from 404,267 cubic metres per day in the same period of last year. Although we have not hit the 10 per cent target yet, the IEAT has asked entrepreneurs to continue their water usage reduction plan until the end of the drought season.”
