Although the overall water situation remains under control, the trend of below-normal rainfall, together with rising water demand, could increase the risk of water shortages in some areas, particularly those outside irrigation zones.
The department said it has been working with relevant agencies, including the Office of the National Water Resources, the Thai Meteorological Department and local authorities, to continuously monitor, assess and plan water management in line with weather conditions and available water reserves.
For water allocation during this dry season, more than 29.85 billion cubic metres of water have already been used, equivalent to 89% of the planned amount.
In the Chao Phraya River basin in particular, water delivery has been closely monitored to ensure supplies remain sufficient to meet demand towards the end of the dry season, while also reserving water for the start of the coming rainy season.
The department has also set out systematic water management measures to cope with both short-term and long-term situations, including:
- planning water management two years in advance
- improving water storage efficiency during the rainy season
- controlling and slowing water releases in line with the situation
- adjusting crop cultivation plans to suit available water reserves
- promoting 3R measures — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle — to improve water-use efficiency
