The country is likely to face severe water shortages until next year after Tropical Storm Podul failed to deposit enough rainwater to replenish major dams in the central and northern regions, a water management official says.
"Rainfall from Podul only added a small amount of water to the dams in 14 severely drought-stricken provinces. We need to place our hopes in storms in September and October to bring enough rainwater," said Samroeng Sangphuwong, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR).
If there is no more rain, the government may have to ask farmers in the Central region, who rely on water from four reservoirs, to cease farming until next year.
Thailand has experienced an unusual lack of rain, which has adversely affected the farming sector, especially the rice industry. The authorities fear the lack of rain will affect harvests in general until next year because water levels in major reservoirs are running low. As of now, there is a combined water storage of 5.5 billion cubic metres, which is only enough for household consumption, in the four main dams of the Central region.
The dams that supply millions of people living in the Chao Phraya River basin are the Bhumibol dam in Tak province, the Sirikit dam in Uttaradit, the Kwai Noi Bamrung Dan dam in Phitsanulok and the Pasak Jolasid dam in Lop Buri.
The major dams in the Northeastern region are facing similar problems.
Meanwhile, the usable water amount in Ubol Ratana Dam in Khon Kaen province remains at only 22% capacity, while the Chulabhorn dam in Chaiyaphum is at 26% and Lam Phra Plerng in Nakhon Ratchasima at 11%.