Phuket water woes averted

PHUKET: Recent heavy downpours have ensured that Phuket should now have enough water to last until the rainy season, according to the Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office (PPIO).

Mr Issara Anukool, who heads the PPIO’s water management department, said that before the recent rains there was enough water in the Bang Wad dam to last until the end of May.

“After that we would use the water from the Bang Niew Dum dam which still holds six million cubic meters. Last night’s rainfall measured 82 millimeters at Bang Wad Dam which added 120,000 cubic meters, so we don’t need to worry about that now. There is definitely enough water to last until the rainy season,” he said.

A Phuket Provincial Meteorological officer said that, “The recent rain in Phuket has been brought in on trade winds from China. It’s unexpected rain and we should be back to the normal season soon, although this year’s rainy season may be late because of the El Niño phenomenon.” 

— Atchaa Khamlo