BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Minister of Interior Jeseth Thaiseth has directed the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) to urgently resolve the severe tap water shortage in Koh Samui caused by a prolonged dry spell. He has also instructed the agency to establish long-term water security measures for the island. After reports of water disruptions starting July 27, 2026, the Deputy Minister instructed PWA Governor Chakrapong Kamchan to mobilize all available resources to address the crisis. The shortage, caused by insufficient rainfall, has depleted local raw water sources and reduced Koh Samui’s water production capacity by 40 percent. This decline has affected distribution, especially in higher areas, leading authorities to implement zoned and scheduled water rationing to ensure fair access and reduce public hardship.
To address the immediate shortage, the PWA is transporting 16,000 cubic meters of water daily from its Surat Thani branch and pumping an additional 4,000 cubic meters per day through an underwater pipeline. The agency is expediting repairs on a damaged Reverse Osmosis (RO) system to restore local production. Officials are also working with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to begin cloud-seeding operations over the island’s reservoirs as soon as weather allows. The Deputy Minister has instructed authorities to provide daily reports and emphasized the need for ongoing public communication to help residents and business owners manage their water use. He also directed the PWA to create a comprehensive long-term water management plan that prioritizes expanding raw water reservoirs and upgrading production and distribution infrastructure to support future economic growth and prevent recurring shortages. (NNT)
