Dry dam danger.
Water supplies in the Sirikit dam are sufficient for consumption until the end of this year while water levels in the Bhumibol dam are still critical.
WATER VOLUMES
Suthep Lertsrimongkol, director of the Sirikit dam in Uttaradit's Tha Pla district, said on August 5 that water volumes in the dam will be adequate for tap water production until December while officials remained vigilant over water supplies for the farming sector.
Suthep said the Sirikit dam currently holds 4.1 billion cubic metres of water, or 43 percent of its full capacity. Of the water volume, 1.2 billion cubic metres or 19 percent is available for use. Eight million cubic metres are also discharged daily from the Sirikit dam in accordance with the Department of Royal Irrigation's order.
LOW LEVELS
Suthep, however, voiced concern over the water situation at the Bhumibol dam in Tak province, saying its level remains low as water must be distributed to provinces along the Chao Phraya River basin for consumption and agricultural purposes.
He said 4.3 billion cubic metres of water are currently held in the Bhumibol dam, or only 33 percent of its full capacity. Of the total volume, 583 million cubic metres, or only 4 percent, is usable water.
One billion cubic metres of rainfall are also expected in August and September each so that the water would be sufficient for producing tap water and distributing to farmlands until the end of this year, Suthep pointed out.