Authorities need to ensure water availability until at least early August in case there is more delay.To ease the water shortage in provinces such as Khon Kaen,the Irrigation Department is preparing to tap the"dead storage" of some dams the water left at the bottom of reservoirs for infrastructure safety purposes,which is normally not utillised.Part of the volume of dead storage water in the Ubolrat,Bang Phra and Kra Siao dams will be pumped out to provide water for people in drought-hit areas.