The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) will begin a preparatory test Thursday night for coping with a severe drought in Bangkok.
The test may result in the city relying more on raw water from its western section should the eastern section not be sufficient, said MWA governor Thanasak Wathanathakorn.
The test will run from 9pm Thursday until 9pm Friday. It may adversely weaken the pressure in the tap water distribution system in inner Bangkok, the eastern part of the city, Thon Buri and some parts of Suk Sawat, said Mr Thanasak.
During the test, the MWA plans to cut the production of tap water from raw water pumped in from the Chao Phraya River by 10%, or between 400,000 and 500,000 cubic metres, he said.
At the same time, the MWA will increase, by about 300,000 cubic metres, the production of tap water from raw water pumped in from the Mae Klong River through canals across western Bangkok, he said.
The main dams supplying raw water to the capital, such as Sirikit in Uttaradit and Pasak Jolasid in Lop Buri, have a pooled capacity to distribute about three billion cubic metres of raw water per month through the Chao Phraya for only five more months, he said.