Flood’s silver lining: Enough water for a year in Pattaya

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In news that should surprise no one who has experienced Thailand’s worst flooding in a decade, the Provincial Waterworks Authority says Pattaya has enough water to last the city a year.

Waterworks Assistant Manager Chaitat Idsang also reassured residents Oct. 4 that the area’s reservoirs are in no danger of overflowing or collapsing due to the record rainfall.

Waterworks Assistant Manager Chaitat Idsang (inset) says local reservoirs now have enough water to last the greater Pattaya area for the coming year. Waterworks Assistant Manager Chaitat Idsang (inset) says local reservoirs now have enough water to last the greater Pattaya area for the coming year.

Chaitat said the Mabprachan, Chaaknok, Huay Khunjid and Huay Saphan reservoirs currently are at 61 percent capacity with a water level of 24.5 million cu. meters. “That is sufficient for one year, so Pattaya’s citizenry need not fear drought as in past years.

He noted that while record flooding and breaches in reservoirs and levees have devastated parts of Thailand, Pattaya’s water-storage facilities are not near full and can accommodate another 10.5 million cu. meters of water, if necessary.

Most of the water filling those reservoirs comes from runoff or rivers so if they are subjected to heavy downpours it actually would be a good thing, Chaitat said, as the water can be treated and used to support the city.