Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's request for state agencies to save water in July has turned up good results with water bills last month showing 48.31% were able to achieve the plan.
He made the request to state agencies, especially in the capital, to share responsibility for saving water with farmers who have been told not to take water for growing crops during the rainy season.
Jatuporn Buruspat, chief of the Department of Water Resources, said the department has reported the results of the water-saving policy among state offices to Gen Prayut.
Almost half the 4,853 state-owned buildings cut water use. About 40% reported increased water consumption and 11.65% were about the same.
He admitted some state agencies were not able to reduce water consumption, such as public hospitals. The campaign was supposed to avoid causing impacts on the public.
"For my own department, we were able to save about 10% on our water bill.
"We have around 400 staff in the department and use around 1,000 cubic metres of water, which is quite a lot. We have tried hard to reduce water consumption," he said.
The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) also launched a water-saving campaign.
It said that since the campaign started last month, about 250,000 water users have saved enough water to qualify for a water bill discount, comprising 235,000 ordinary household users and the rest, state agencies and business sector. The campaign ends this month.
The MWA supplies tap water to around 2.2 million water users in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan provinces.
Consumers were asked to cut consumption by 10%, or more than five cubic metres. Household winners will receive a 100 baht cut in their bills, while businesses will get 200 baht shaved off their bills.
The Department of Royal Irrigation said there are currently 2.17 billion cubic metres of water in Bhumibol dam in Tak province, Sirikit dam in Uttaradit province, Khwae Noi Bamroong dan in Phitsanulok province and Pasak Chonlasit dam in Lop Buri province.
The dams provide water to 22 provinces along the Chao Phraya River basin.
Last week, the amount of water flowing to the four dams was 330 million cubic metres, and the outflow 110 million cubic metres.
The department said that by the end of the rainy season, it should have at least 3.5 billion cubic metres of water in the dams, available only for daily consumption and ecological system protection. It would still not be enough for farming.