The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has set up the Water Institute for Sustainability (WIS) to map out the country's master plan for effective water management by the industrial sector.
Somchai Wangwattanapanich, vice-chairman of the FIT and also chairman of the WIS, said the WIS committee will start brainstorming soon before proposing the plan to the government.
The committee consists of 40 FTI members, senior officials from the Department of Groundwater Resources and local governmental administrative officers.
They are sharing details of water demand in all areas and how to manage limited water resources to meet rapidly rising demand, Mr Somchai said.
"Water is a major resource that is crucial for Thai industry and we need to use it effectively to have sufficient water for not only the industrial sector but also all sectors," he said.
The farm sector consumes the biggest proportion of water, followed by communities, tourism and the industrial sector.
"We have always faced problems with water, whether floods or drought. That is because we do not have a master plan to manage the use of water appropriately," Mr Somchai said.
Mr Somchai said demand for water in the industrial sector was rising rapidly in line with investment, with the government's infrastructure projects expected to accelerate the production capacity of several industries. He said the FTI as a representative of the private sector wanted the government to apply the East's water management plan as the major model for all regions, especially the North and Northeast, which have water problems in the industrial sector.
Supot Jermsawatdipong, director-general of the Department of Groundwater Resources, said the department would play a key role in the committee in directing the way to prevent the overuse of groundwater that would lead to environmental problems.
"We will conduct the way to consume groundwater appropriately since we have a law to oversee it," he said, adding that groundwater will become the first choice for the industrial sector when it faces drought.