The Ministry of Interior, led by Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, along with Deputy Minister Chada Thaised and Pornpoth Penpas, Director General of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA), conducted a site survey to monitor drought resolution efforts at the PWA Phuket Branch. The PWA was instructed to expedite the water pipeline project in Phuket to ensure water security for consumption in the tourist towns on the Andaman coast, focusing on the Bang Niao Dam Reservoir. Additionally, a low-pressure raw water pumping plant at Klong Je Ta, Sri Sunthon Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket Province, was built on 9 May 2024.
Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, stated, “Phuket is a major tourism destination and a crucial economic area, generating Thailand’s highest revenue from tourism. The government has established a policy to promote the development of a Medical Hub to make Phuket a health tourism city in the Andaman region. Therefore, relevant public infrastructure systems must be developed to support this change, particularly tap water, which is essential for consumption. The water production plan and water distribution are set to integrate operations, particularly the water production and delivery project from Ratchaprapha Dam to Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi provinces. The Provincial Waterworks Authority is urged to explore and coordinate with relevant agencies to advance further action so that the provinces in the Andaman area are provided with sufficient water for consumption, supporting public needs, promoting the tourism sector, and supporting economic growth to generate income for residents in the area.”
Chakapong Kamchan, Deputy Governor (Operation 2) and Acting Governor of the Provincial Waterworks Authority, stated, “Currently, the PWA Phuket Branch provides tap water services to the public in Phuket, covering 3 districts: Mueang District, Thalang District, and Kathu District, with 71,500 customers using the service. During the rainy season, water from natural sources is used to produce tap water, while during the dry season, water is sourced from Bang Niao Dam Reservoir, Bang Wat Reservoir, and Khlong Katha Reservoir. As the drought season occurs due to rainfall shortages, the amount of raw water in all three reservoirs continues to decrease. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of the tourism business sector and residential projects also contribute to water insecurity, resulting in higher water demand than in previous years.”
The PWA Phuket Branch is thus urged to address the drought issue and prepare raw water to support tap water production to serve the public in the future, in three phases:
- Urgent Phase: During the dry season in 2024, nearly 30 million baht has been spent to procure raw water from private water reservoirs in the area. A mobile production system (Mobile Plant) is also rented to produce tap water for the public.
- Medium-Term Project: Plans are set to improve and expand the PWA Phang Nga-Phuket Branch. The first phase in 2024 has been allocated a budget and is in the process of constructing a water supply production system using raw water sources from the Phang Nga Canal. The project is expected to be completed in 2027 to serve people in Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province, and Thalang District, Kathu, and Mueang Phuket in Phuket Province.
- Long-Term Project: The project is in the planning phase to produce and deliver tap water from Ratchaprapha Dam to Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi provinces. The Cabinet recently approved for the PWA and related agencies to review and study the project feasibility. Currently, the PWA is recruiting a contractor to prepare a study report to assess suitability and prepare a report on the study and analysis of joint investment projects between the public and private sectors. The PWA is expected to present the first report to the Cabinet by September 2024.
The PWA Acting Governor added, “The PWA is committed to implementing various projects according to the plan. This includes integrating cooperation with Phuket and local government agencies involved in water management to ensure sufficient raw water for tap water production and support the increasing water demand in the future. These projects aim to assure the public, business operators, and tourists of adequate, clean, and sustainable water consumption.”
Following Anutin Charnvirakul’s visit to Phuket, heavy rains occurred, increasing the amount of water in all three reservoirs. This has built public confidence that there will be sufficient raw water to produce tap water throughout the dry season this year.
