The perennial water shortages are hitting sections of the island, on both sides and in local communities. From Kamala to parts of Phuket Town, and lots of villages in between, the annual water shortages have led to water supplies being cut off or limited.
Some 20 communities are suffering either inconvenient or critical water shortages as the island’s 3 main dams are getting close to the bottom (excepting Bang New Dum dam which still has around 43% of its supply). The quality of the water has also dropped as the lower parts of the dams have more silt and sediment in the water supply.
Over the last weekend officials inspected communities in Kamala as water tankers delivered water that mostly comes from the hundreds of small lakes and dams created by rainwater filling up the old tin mines scattered around the island, often at a high cost.
The National Water Resources reports that the main Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu is 16% full, the Klong Kata reservoir in Chalong is 23% full, and the Bang New Dum reservoir in the Srisoonthorn sub-district is 43% full. (These figures were accurate up to May 5).
But Phuket Governor Sophon says there is nothing to worry about as there is adequate supply to see us through the next few weeks until the wet season starts. Meanwhile the Thai Meteorological Department says that Phuket and surrounding provinces should see some rainfall this week.
Phuket GO publishes a daily weather forecast and update which is the most accurate available.
