Disclosing the 30-year missions of East Water with the aim of developing water transmission pipeline

for “Industry-Community-Security” of the EEC water consumers

            With more than 3 decades of water management in the Eastern region of Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Limited or East Water, raw water service has been effectively integrated and transmitted through large pipelines to industrial and consumer sectors, making the Eastern region the most perfect role model of the water management in Thailand.

            The continuous development results in East Water becoming the number one leader in water management in South East Asia. East Water has applied the principle of creating sustainable water system to serve water users with emphasis om efficient and environmentally-friendly water consumption to strengthen the stability of water infrastructure for the national economy.

            It is widely known that water is one of the most essential resources of the world. It does not only play a key role in nurturing lives but also takes a significant part in driving the industrial growth. Water can be an indicator of economic condition and growth of the country. That is the reason why water management is important, especially for the Eastern Seaboard Development Program (ESDP) initiated in 1982-1986, which was a remarkable economic development policy that prepared the Eastern region of Thailand to become “the trading gate and industrial manufacturing base of ASEAN”.

             Water management plan is, therefore, on of the ESDP’s main plans that require the budget of more than 4,500 million Baht for investment on additional water transmission pipeline. In addition, at that particular time, several organizations were involved in water management, including Royal Irrigation Department, Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA). After the National Economics and Social Development Council (NESDC) has considered the relevant laws and regulations, the establishment of a concession company has been proposed to operate the one-stop service concerning water management for the overall economic benefits of the country. 

            At the beginning of the establishment of East Water, the government agency that had originally taken care of the property was required to transfer the property to the Treasury Department to facilitate the execution of lease agreement with East Water. For any investments after that, East Water would be responsible for raising funds from the Stock Exchange of Thailand to reduce the dependence on the government’s budget in building additional water transmission pipeline in the future. to ensure that East Water could provide the public service and gain appropriate profits for the investors, the rate of property lease was quite low, enabling the government to become the majority shareholder to supervise the policies under the resolutions of the Council of Ministers and to obtain the dividends along with the investors.

            On 12 September 1992, East Water was established in accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers provided that the PWA still holds 100% shares to integrate the raw water management through large water transmission pipelines and distribute it to both industrial and consumer sectors. In 1997, East Water increased its capital and was converted into a public limited company registered in the Stock Exchange of Thailand to raise funds for investment in the water transmission pipeline network to accommodate the increasing demand in water consumption each year. Currently, the registered capital is 1,663.73 million Baht. The government agencies which are the majority shareholders are PWA and IEAT which collectively hold 45 percent of the total shares.

            In addition to the pipeline system contracted by the Treasurer Department for management with the length of 135.90 kilometers, East Water also increased the capital and raised funds to construct additional pump station, water transmission network, and reserved water resources. Moreover, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) has been implemented to track and solve water pumping problems for 24 hours. The system has the effective control center and quality real-time monitoring system of raw water from all sources.

            To reduce the waste of water within the pipeline and maximize the efficiency of water transmission, the government’s main water sources (reservoirs), main rivers, and private water sources are connected with the customers in service areas in 3 provinces,  leading to the large water transmission network or water grid which is the first and the most perfect water network in Thailand and ASEAN with the total length of 512 kilometers. This network connects almost all significant water sources in the Eastern region, including Nong Pla Lai, Dok Krai, and Prasae Reservoirs,  Rayong River and Thap Ma Nai Canal in Rayong Province, Nong Kho and Bang Phra Reservoirs in Chon Buri Province, as well as Bang Pakong Rover in Chachoengsao Province, through the large water transmission pipeline network connecting 2 rivers in 3 provinces.

            Furthermore, the network can connect with the pipeline of Royal Irrigation Department in Chanthaburi Province, enabling East Water to effectively manage water resources in the EEC area, which reduces the risk of water shortage during the drought crisis or the lack of rain. Moreover, it helps mitigate the effects of saltwater intruding Bang Pakong River. Easter has regularly integrated its water management along with the government agencies and the private sector with its three decades of expertise in water management.

            From the current drought situation, the relevant agencies from all sectors in Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao have jointly managed water to mitigate the drought and tackle the water shortage crisis. All sectors have been requested to reduce their water consumption by 10 percent. East Water has been trying to seek other water resources to increase the amount of water while Royal Irrigation Department has prepared tools and equipment. Agricultural sector and other sectors have been asked to control their water usage in accordance with the water allocation plan to ensure sufficient water for consumption. 

            In addition to the drought crisis in 2004-2005, East Water has collaborated with all sectors in water management by establishing the war room with the relevant parties such as Royal Irrigation Department, IEAT, PWA, consumers, and East Water, contributing to uniformed solutions to the problem. This collaboration also leads to the river connecting pipeline investment project with the aim of connecting water resources, including East Water’s project such as Bang Pakong Water Pipeline connect with Laem Chabang Pipeline, Prasae-Bang Yai Pipeline, and the government’s project such as Khlong Phra Ong Chao Chaiyanuchit-Bang Phra Pipeline, as well as many more projects. This helped the Eastern region survive the water shortage crisis.

            In 2019-2020, drought reoccurred. However, with the collaborative work of the war room and the perfent water transmission pipeline, the Eastern region has survived this crisis again thanks to the perfect pipeline connection and uniformed management.

            Mr. Cherdchai Pitiwacharakul. President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of East Water mentioned, “East Water has the water grid that has been used to manage water transmission in Rayong, Chon Buri and Chachoengsao having the total length of 512 kilometers and another 120 kilometers is under development to accommodate the increasing demand of water consumption in the present and in the future.

            “This investment expansion will make consumers rest assured that East Water still have capacity to effectively provide water transmission service in the EEC and adhere to its mission to integrate the water management and raw water transmission pipeline system in the Eastern region with emphasis on uniformity and stability, as well as maintaining the pipeline maintenance system to accommodate the water consumption demand in the sufficient and ;timely manner. Also, the water transmission pipeline is expected to be expanded for the highest benefits in the future. These are all missions that East Water has adhered to for 30 years,” said Mr. Cherdchai.