Prachuap Khiri Khan province has begun preparations for a potential drought and domestic water shortages after authorities reported low water reserves and a forecast of below-average rainfall in the coming months.
A meeting of the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre was held on Thursday morning at the provincial hall to assess the water situation and coordinate response measures. The meeting was chaired by Governor Sitthichai Sawatsan and attended by the deputy governor, provincial disaster officials, heads of government departments, district chiefs and representatives from all eight districts.
Officials reviewed the latest data on reservoir levels across the province. As of 8 January, Pranburi Reservoir, the largest in the province, held 174.82 million cubic metres of usable water, or 44.71 per cent of its total capacity of 391 million cubic metres. The province’s eight medium-sized reservoirs together contained 45.14 million cubic metres of usable water, equivalent to 42 per cent of their combined capacity.
Areas at risk and dry-season outlook
A provincial survey identified 172 villages and communities across all eight districts as being at high risk of domestic water shortages. These include 30 villages in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan district, one in Kui Buri, 48 in Thap Sakae, 15 in Bang Saphan, six in Bang Saphan Noi, 30 in Pranburi, 34 in Hua Hin and eight in Sam Roi Yot. A further 146 villages and communities have been placed under close monitoring.
The Office of National Water Resources reported that Prachuap Khiri Khan is among the provinces nationwide facing an elevated drought risk this year. Rainfall during the first half of the year is expected to be below the long-term average, with the most critical period forecast between March and April, when rainfall could fall around 39 per cent below normal.
Two service areas under the Provincial Waterworks Authority, covering the Prachuap Khiri Khan and Bang Saphan branches, were flagged as vulnerable to domestic water shortages. These branches supply tap water to four districts: Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thap Sakae, Bang Saphan and Bang Saphan Noi. Both have been instructed to prepare raw water management plans to ensure sufficient water production throughout the dry season.
To support water supplies, the Southern Royal Rainmaking Operations Centre plans to conduct cloud-seeding operations from March to September, targeting reservoirs and drought-affected areas in Prachuap Khiri Khan and the upper southern region.
Governor Sitthichai said rainfall across the province was relatively low last year, raising concerns that water supplies may not be sufficient to meet domestic demand during the peak dry months. He said comprehensive water management plans and assistance measures were therefore required, particularly for high-risk areas.
He instructed district disaster prevention and mitigation centres to convene relevant agencies to closely track water reserve data and prepare for rapid response. Where shortages occur, clean water tankers should be deployed to supply affected communities. Huai Sai sub-district in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan, which experiences recurring drought problems, will be used as a pilot area for drought mitigation measures this year.