Warnings issued as Chao Phraya river water turns saltier
A durian orchard owner checks the salinity level of the water in her area of Nonthaburi. That was last July. This year levels are already high in February. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD
Farmers and orchard owners in the Bangkok area are being told to monitor salinity levels closely. Levels in many areas are already too high for home consumption.
Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning
Brackish water intruding up Chao Phraya
Online Reporters
The salinity level of water in the Chao Phraya River is now very high, putting tap water production by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority at risk,according to Nonthaburi Irrigation Project director Roongtham Bokerd.
Mr Roongtham said salinity at the mouth of Khlong Somlae canal in Pathum Thani's Sam Khok district, where an MWA station for pumping raw water is located, was measured at 0.16 grammes/litre on Monday morning.
The standard salt concentration of water for home supply must not exceed 0.25 grammes/litre.
Salinity levels downriver were much higher - 0.64 gramme/litre at Phra Nang Klao Bridge, 0.82 grammes/litre at the Nonthaburi boat landing pier, and 1.22 grammes/litre at the Royal Irrigation Department's waterfront at Samsen.
The standard level of salt concentration in water for agricultural use must not exceed2 grammes/litre.
Farmers are advised to check the salinity level before pumping water from the Chao Phraya River and connecting canals to their fields, Mr Roongtham said.
Chatchai Promlert, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said 1,826 villages in 206 tambons of 43 districts in 12 provinces, or 2.44% of villages throughout the country, have been declared drought disaster areas.
The drought-hit villages are in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Uttaradit, Phayao and Sukhothai in the North; Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Phanom, Maha Sarakham and Buriram in the Northeast; Kanchanaburi and Phetchaburi in the Central; and Sa Kaeo in the East.