The levels of water in Thailand’s major reservoirs are critically low, with only 19% usable for consumption, agriculture and protection of ecological systems, according to the National Water and Climate Data Centre.
The situation in the West is of the utmost concern, as only 13% of the water currently in the reservoirs can be used, compared to 34% in the South, 30% in the East, 23% in the Northeast, 20% in the north and 19% in the central region.
In the country’s four main reservoirs, Bhumibol, Sirikit, Pasak Jolasid and Kwae Noi Bamrung Dan, only 4.55 billion cu.m (18%) of the water that can be used, said the centre, adding that it remains to be seen how much the reservoirs will be replenished during the rainy season.
The centre pointed out that the Chao Phraya river basin needs 12 billion cu.m of water during the dry season and at the start of the rainy season, but only 4.55 billion cu.m are available for use, leaving a shortfall of nearly 7.45 billion cu.m, with the rainy season due to end in the next 140 days.
Thailand officially entered the rainy season on May 23, but many provinces in the North and Northeast are still facing drought./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency