With recent heavy rains and more forecast, especially from 6th – 10th October, water supply officials in Prachuap Khiri Khan province have been carefully monitoring dam levels and are expressing their confidence that overflows will not affect communities downstream.
The Huay Sai Ngam Reservoir In the Nong Phlap Subdistrict of Hua Hin is now at 100% capacity with overflows in both spillways being diverted.
The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for a monsoon trough across the lower northern, central, eastern and northern regions which will cause more heavy rain,
Mr. Prajak Anjuk-Chun, Director of the Pranburi Water Supply says that there is a watch current on levels in the Pranburi Reservoir. This reservoir is currently holding 295 million cubic meters of a capacity of 391 million cubic meters.
The intent is to not exceed 75% of the reservoir capacity, with drainage into the Pranburi River at the rate of 20 cubic metres per second or 1.7 million cubic metres per day starting from October 8th in preparation for heavy rain.
It may be necessary to adjust that flow, to ensure communities downstream are not affected and in accordance with the situation of Huai Sai Ngam Reservoir, which also drains into the Pranburi River. There are four surveillance points to warn of any flooding along the river bank.
There are also 12 points for equipment to be deployed for any downstream risk areas.
Water management will also take into account the future dry season needs for consumption, agriculture and ecological conservation. By maintaining an 80% capacity, it is expected there will be enough water for almost 200,000 rai of farmland.
