PATTAYA, Thailand – Members of the Pattaya City Council have raised concerns over ongoing water shortages on Koh Larn, urging faster progress on a long-delayed project to develop a new water production system for the island.
During the meeting, council member Wasan Sukkee questioned the administration about progress on the water management project for Koh Larn, noting that the feasibility study and drafting of the project’s terms of reference (TOR) had taken more than four years.
He said the delay has become increasingly concerning after recent technical problems reduced the island’s water production capacity from about 400 cubic meters per day to only around 100 cubic meters, forcing residents to purchase water from private suppliers at high prices. In some areas, residents reportedly faced water shortages for nearly a month.
Wasan suggested the city consider transporting additional water supplies to the island as a temporary measure to relieve residents while repairs and system upgrades are underway.
Council members also questioned the slow progress of the proposed public–private partnership (PPP) water management project, which has been under development for four to five years without moving into full implementation. They asked the administration to provide clearer timelines rather than general assurances that the project would proceed “in due course.”
Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai explained that Koh Larn’s water system had previously been operated by a private contractor capable of producing about 300 cubic meters per day over a five-year contract period. After the contract expired, Pattaya City Hall assumed responsibility using existing equipment, though the current system cannot meet growing demand.
To address the problem, the city has developed a new water production project under a PPP model aimed at significantly increasing supply capacity on the island. The project has already received approval from Thailand’s Ministry of Interior, and the TOR has been completed.
For additional review, the draft TOR was sent to Kasetsart University for technical evaluation. After revisions, the document will be forwarded to the state attorney’s office before the city can proceed with signing an investment agreement with a private partner.
Manot added that the recent mechanical breakdown that reduced production to around 100 cubic meters per day has now been repaired, allowing water supply on Koh Larn to return to normal levels.
However, Wasan proposed an alternative approach, suggesting Pattaya could invest directly in the system using part of the city’s accumulated reserve fund of roughly 1.7 billion baht. He estimated the new water production facility could cost 120–200 million baht, allowing the city to retain ownership of the infrastructure while maintaining better control over water quality and pricing.
Council members urged the administration to pursue concrete solutions as quickly as possible and consider multiple options alongside the PPP plan to ensure a stable water supply for Koh Larn residents and businesses.
