Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) collaborates with Easter Water and Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) to create water stability in the eastern region, conduct the survey to follow up the work progress in accordance with 10 measures of dry season, and prepare for rainy season in 2023 in Rayong Province, as well as raising the public awareness through “Know How To Live With Water” program regarding water management in all aspects.

            Dr. Surasee Kittimonthon, Secretary-General of Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) as the Working Group under National Water Steering Division led the group to survey Rayong Province to follow up the work progress in accordance with 10 measures of dry season for the year 2022/2023 and prepare for rainy season in the year 2023. The group follows up water situation at Prasae Reservoir and summarize drought situation at the area and guidelines for water management in rainy season, exchange opinions about participation in local water management from the representatives of water user organizations from 3 sectors, including agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors.

            Moreover, the public awareness of water management in all aspects has been raised through “Know How To Live With Water” program to ensure people are aware of the impacts of water disaster and able to adjust themselves to live with water in all situations. Discussion has been made with Mr. Weerit Amrapan, Governor of Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, and Mr. Bordin Udol, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Limited or East Water. The aim is to encourage the industrial sector to collaborate with the government sector in developing local water resources of the industrial sector to create water stability in the eastern region.

            Mr. Bordin Udol, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), East Water, stated that El Niño that will occur this year will not affect water users who currently receive water from the water grid of East Water as water situation during the drought crisis that results in low water budget and high demand of water usage has been forecast, and water supply pumping plan to deal with the said problem has been  prepared.

            East Water has the overall water management plan in EEC area in the next 20 years and invests in laying the main water grid to enhance the water grid efficiency. The length of the main water grid will be 526 kilometers in the near future, accompanied with the main water sources allocated by the Royal Irrigation Department such as Nong Kho Reservoir, Dok Krai Reservoir, Nong Pla Lai Reservoir, Bang Phra Reservoir, as well as the water sources from which water could be pumped for usage each year with the water budget equivalent to the amount of seasonal water such as Bang Pakong River, Rayong River, Thap Ma Canal, and private water sources. Moreover, there are also secondary water sources for usage in case of less amount of water in water sources that leads to water shortage such as Sam Nak Bok Raw Water Reserve Pond, Chacheongsao Raw Water Reserve Pond and Thap Ma Raw Water Reserve Pond. These resources are supported by more than 30 years’ experience of East Water in consistently distributing water to users while supporting communities, society and environment.

            East Water realizes the importance of water users, overall water management along with the agricultural, commercial, industrial, and government sectors to seek the most appropriate way to use water with all sectors jointly and equally, as well as finding the most effective solution to drought problem, taking care of all groups of stakeholders from upstream to downstream along East Water’s main water grid for East Water to stay sustainably alongside the communities, society and environment.