SURAT THANI: Water zoning is being introduced on the holiday island of Koh Samui, with the rationing of tap water to households and businesses.
Pru Namuang reservoir, the major water source in Koh Samui district, is nearly dry, with only muddy pools of water left. The extreme water shortage has forced large hotels to buy water trucked in from outside to serve guests.
Surapong Somwang, manager of the Provincial Waterworks Authority's Koh Samui branch, said the island was experiencing its worst water crisis in 10 years due to an extended drought.
The authority was forced to cut back on tap water production and mix the supply with untreated water from other sources.
He said the absence of rain had affected all three reservoirs used for tap water production in Koh Samui district. They have a combined holding capacity of 4.6 million cubic metres of water, but now had only 988,000 cubic metres of water in total.