Rain staves off water shortage – again

PHUKET: The heavy downpours late last month boosted Phuket’s water reserves in Bang Wad Reservoir to 2.7 million cubic meters – enough to last until mid-June, Watchara Arepornsiri, Project Director at Phuket Irrigation Office, has told the Gazette.

“The amount of water in Bang Wad Reservoir has risen to 2.7 million cubic meters, and we should have no problems because we have checked with the weather forecasters, and they say the rainy season should arrive by the end of April,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sayan Wareearoonroj, Manager of Phuket Provincial Water Supply, told the Gazette that the 66-million-baht pipeline from the Hitlor and Manik tin mine lagoons in Tambon Srisoonthorn, Thalang, is about 20% complete.

The new pipeline, which should be ready in June, will run from the lagoons, which have a combined capacity of 2 million cubic meters, and resupply a tin mine in Kathu on state land controlled by the Phuket Excise Office.

K. Sayan added that construction of the reserve-osmosis water purification plant in Kata is underway.

“REQ Co began building the plant in January, and it is scheduled to be complete by July next year,” he said.