PATHUM THANI — All 63 sluice gates along the Chao Phraya River in this central province will be closed for one week, starting today, to stop sea water intrusion, which will affect tap water production during high tides.
Chuchart Supawanthanangkul, director of Pathum Thani’s irrigation project, said on Saturday that the Royal Irrigation Department has ordered the closure of all sluice gates along the Chao Phraya River under the Irrigation Office 11's supervision from Feb 6-12.
A total of 63 sluice gates in Pathum Thani will be closed to prevent sea water intrusion as high sea tides are expected during this period, said Mr Chuchart.
Salinity at the Sam Lae water intake pump station in Sam Khok district, which supplies raw water for tap water production, was measured on Saturday at 0.20 grammes per litre and is expected to be high this evening, said the irrigation project director.
He called on farmers and residents to economically use water and refrain from pumping water into canals for farming during this period.
After the high sea tides, irrigation authorities would evaluate the situation and gradually open the sluice gates to discharge water for use, he said.