Hua Hin City Municipality is stepping up efforts to improve water management in the city, with plans to establish a dedicated working group aimed at addressing persistent flooding issues.
At a meeting held on 11 June at the Hua Hin City Municipality Office, Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Sithichai Sawatsansae and Dr Royol Chitradon, Director and Secretary-General of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute Foundation under Royal Patronage, led discussions on how to develop more systematic approaches to water management in Hua Hin.
The meeting was attended by Hua Hin District Chief Prasoot Hombanthoeng; Jirawat Prammanee, Permanent Secretary and Acting Mayor of Hua Hin City; heads of government departments; and representatives from other relevant agencies.
The initiative comes as part of a wider provincial effort, with Prachuap Khiri Khan Province having already set up a water management task force to coordinate work across different areas. Surveys conducted by the task force identified Hua Hin as one of the locations most affected by flooding.
Dr Royol, acting as an advisor to the task force, provided guidance on integrated water management strategies during the meeting.
Flooding in Hua Hin typically occurs when rainfall exceeds 90 millimetres or when heavy runoff flows down from Hin Lek Fai Hill and mountains behind Wat Phuttha Chaiyo. Such events have repeatedly led to flooding in the city centre and key commercial zones.
Known trouble spots include sections of Phetkasem Road in front of Chat Chai Market, Soi 88 to Soi 102, and Soi 112. Surveys have highlighted several contributing factors, such as inadequate drainage caused by blockages from weeds and rubbish, undersized drain inlets, ground-level variations that cause water to backflow in some areas, and incomplete drainage connections to the Royal Initiative Canal.
During the meeting, participants proposed forming a working group to systematically collect data and coordinate action with relevant agencies. The aim is to develop an integrated plan that aligns with provincial water management efforts.
Recommendations included the installation of a telemeter system to enable close monitoring of weather conditions and rainfall. It was also suggested that the city should map areas prone to flooding, water accumulation, and key drainage routes to better inform planning decisions.
Further proposals included coordinating with the State Railway of Thailand to open additional drainage channels alongside the railway tracks to improve water flow. Installing sediment traps in the Royal Initiative Canal was also discussed, in order to help reduce blockages caused by weeds and sediment build-up.
The formation of the new working group is expected to mark a significant step towards mitigating the risk of flooding in Hua Hin.