Households in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan have been warned that their tap water may occasionally taste brackish due to its high sodium chloride content, but it is still safe for consumption.
Khun Raksak Suriyaharn, the deputy. Governor of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), stated that the lack of rain in most parts of Thailand, despite the start of the rainy season in early June, has led to an influx of seawater, which penetrates deeper into the Chao Phraya River, while the amount of water flowing downstream is insufficient to push the saltwater back.
To address the issue, he said the MWA has modified its water production plan, in line with the Royal Irrigation Department (RID)’s discharge of water from Chao Phraya Dam, to temporarily push back seawater, adding that using this method, a window of only four hours a day to pump raw water, which is less brackish, in Sam Lae in the Muang district of Pathum Thani for tap water production.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan chaired a meeting of the Office of the National Water Resources yesterday to discuss the current drought, which could affect up to 34 provinces in August due to the lack of rain, which is expected to last until July.
During the meeting, it was reported that all concerned authorities have been told to store water and to look for new water sources for future use.
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