NAKHON RATCHASIMA: The water levels in five dams in this northeastern province are high enough for both consumption and agriculture until the end of next year's dry season, an official said on Sunday.
Chidchanok Somprasert, director of the 8th Irrigation Office, said that on June 16 the volume of water in the Lam Takhong Dam in Si Khiu district was 198 million cubic metres, 63% of its full capacity of 314 million cubic metres.
He said the dam's sluice gates have been closed because there is sufficient water below the dam -- due to constant rainfall -- to maintain the eco-system and for agriculture. The goal is to retain as much water as possible in the dam for consumption and farming during next year's dry season.
As for the four other dams, Moon Bon Dam in Khon Buri district now has 75 million cubic metres of water or 53% of the full holding capacity of 141 million cubic metres; Lam Sae Dam in Khon Buri district with 120 million cubic metres, 44th of the full capacity of 275 million cubic metres; Lam Phra Phloeng Dam in Pak Thong Chai district with 95 million cubic metres of water, 62% of the full capacity of 155 million cubic metres; and Lam Plai Mat Dam in Soeng Sang district with 68 million cubic metres of water, 69% of the full capacity of 98 million cubic metres.