BANGKOK, Thailand – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has confirmed that it continues to expand water retention areas, known in Thai as “Kam Ling,” following social media claims that the projects had been abandoned. Bangkok currently has 38 retention areas with a combined capacity of about 13.71 million cubic meters, compared with 34 areas and 13.47 million cubic meters in May 2022.
Seven additional areas are planned, adding about 290,000 cubic meters of storage. Once completed, Bangkok will have 45 Kaem Ling areas capable of holding more than 14 million cubic meters of water. The system uses ponds, basins, and other suitable areas to temporarily store excess water before releasing it through the drainage network when conditions allow.
Four retention areas were added or improved in 2026. These include the Rahat Canal to the Khru Canal with a capacity of 89,700 cubic meters, Bueng Si Kan with a capacity of 150,000 cubic meters, Lat Phrao 71 Public Pond with a capacity of 38,000 cubic meters, and Bang Khen Roundabout Pond with a capacity of 6,000 cubic meters.
The BMA clarified that the cancellation of individual projects does not mean the wider Kam Ling approach has been discontinued. Decisions on specific locations depend on local suitability, public hearings, and changes to the city’s drainage network, while Bangkok continues to expand water storage capacity and improve drainage operations. (NNT)
