The Royal Irrigation Department has appealed to all sectors to splash less and save more water during the Songkran festival, warning the country could face water crisis by August if there is not enough rainfall to fill major dams by the end of wet season.
Spokesman Thongplew Kongjan told Daily News Online on Wednesday evening that people should help save water by reducing the number of days of water-splashing activities during the festival this year.
They should also use less water, just enough to feel the vibe of Songkran and not splashing water as much as previous years.
Mr Thongplew, director of the Office of Water Management and Hydrology, said the change was necessary so that the level of stored water would be enough for use if the dry season persists longer than usual this year.
Seri Suparathit, a hydrologist at Rangsit University, described the current drought as the worst in 20 years and warned Thailand is on the verge of an unavoidable water crisis.
The drought situation had to be watched closely over the next four months as rainy season would arrive late this year, he said.