The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is mobilising pumps to channel water from reservoirs to ensure tap water continues to flow in the drought stricken parts of Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima.
At least three pumps were dispatched and put to work at the Lam Pai Mas reservoir to feed water along a stretch of the Lam Pai Mas canal to a pumping station some 145 kilometres away.
"Since mid-March, more than 580,000 cubic metres (m³) of water has been diverted from the reservoir to the canal," RID chief Thongplew Kongchan said.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, the Huai Takraw reservoir is also being tapped by the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA)'s Phimai branch to replenish water tanks at the water station to keep tap water flowing in the drought-hit province.
The tanks are capable of storing up to 30,000m³ of water, which is enough to supply 1,800 homes in the area.
Since communities in the area require a combined 1,500m³ of water a day, the RID estimated that there is enough water in the tanks to last about 20 days.
An extra 60,000m³ of water will also be pumped from the Chee River into the tanks, which will help ensure water reserves in the tanks can last beyond 20 days, according to the RID chief.
The PWA has requested permission from the irrigation department to fetch water from the Ban Nong Khaem reservoir in Khon district of Nakhon Ratchasima, which will serve as a back-up source of water in case the drought reaches a critical level.
Meanwhile, some enterprising residents in Surin's Chom Phra district -- which is also affected by water shortages -- are raking in extra money by selling water sourced from underground wells to households and businesses that need it.
Khampian Boonlert, 47, said he has rented a large underground well from a local farmer in tambon Pensuk, so that he can pump out water to be sold for about 200 baht per 2,000 litres.
Mr Khampian said prices change depending on distance, as he transports the water himself.