Confirmation of the water level at Bang Wad comes from the Office of Natural Water Resources (ONWR), as the Phuket Water Authority and the Phuket branch of the Royal Irrigation Department, which is responsible for monitoring and reporting the water levels at the island’s three main reservoirs, have not posted any public updates since Feb 1.
At that time, Bang Wad Reservoir in Kathu had 7.1 million cubic meters of water (about 69.6% full). The water level has halved in just the past seven and a half weeks.
Bang Neow Dum Reservoir in Srisoonthorn had 5.69mn cubic meters of water (about 73% full) and Klong Kata Reservoir in Chalong had 2.54mn cubic meters of water (61.4% full).
As of today, according to the OWNR, the water level at Bang Neow Dam reservoir stands at a still-healthy 58%, but Klong Kata is now only 39% full.
The lack of replenishment of water into the reservoirs comes as a result of a particularly dry hot season. Phuket Met, the branch of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) based near Phuket International Airport, as of today marks the total rainfall on Phuket so far for March as just 7mm. The weather agency marks the total rainfall on the island since the beginning of the year as just 26.7mm.
Confirmation of the water levels at the island’s three main reservoirs comes with three weeks still to go before Songkran, and the government calling for the country to celebrate the Thai New Year over three weeks as a way of attracting tourists using the country’s ‘soft power’.
The official Songkran public holiday lasts from Apr 13-17 but the “World Songkran Festival” will be staged from Apr 1-21 to boost tourism.
In Phuket, Patong is already planning a three-day festival, instead of official celebrations lasting one day only.
Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas has already called on residents in the Phuket City Municipality area to take steps to conserve water, and to immediately report any broken or leaky water supply pipes found.
However, Mayor Saroj also assured Phuket Town residents that Phuket City Municipality has enough water supply in reserve as it has made agreements with owners of private water reserves to supply the municipality until the annual rains return, usually in May.