Shock - no pipeline to river yet for Pattaya

Pattaya citizens stunned! Pattaya Mail

No connecting pipeline from Bangpakong River into Mab Prachan reservoir - Ariyawat Nuamsawat
At a meeting of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, (PBTA) early this month, members of the association, including a room full of residents and business people of Pattaya were stunned to learn that there was still no connecting water pipeline to bring water from the Bangpakong River to the Mab Prachan reservoir.

Chanyuth Hengtrakul, former MP of Chonburi Province
The PBTA met on May 9 at Green Park Resort, chaired by Jamroon Wisawachaipan with representatives from the Royal Irrigation Department, the Pattaya Waterworks Authority, and East Water Co Ltd attending, where it was reported that the project to install water pipelines from the Bangpakong River to Nongkoh and Bangpra reservoirs had been completed.
It was also reported that a water pipeline from the Nongplalai and Dokkrai reservoirs in Rayong Province to the Nong Kor Reservoir was also completed and operational which meant that Nong Kor had enough reserves to support demand for water in the Chonburi Province area.
East Water Co Ltd, which manages and operates raw water distribution pipeline systems in the Eastern Seaboard areas, has also laid a pipeline from the Bangpra Reservoir to the Nongklangdong Reservoir and the Naklua Water Filtration Station.
тАЬBut thatтАЩs where it stops.тАЭ exclaimed the chairman of the PBTA. тАЬThere is no pipeline to bring water further to the Mab Prachan Reservoir.тАЭ

Jamroon Wisawachaipan, President of PBTA
He continued, тАЬAt present the Mab Prachan reservoir is connected by a pipeline to the Chaknok, Huaykhunjit and Huaysapan reservoirs, with no connecting pipeline, so therefore we are back to where we were and that is our only source of water is to wait for rain, just like before.тАЭ
He urged the authorities to take a closer look at Mab Prachan Reservoir, saying that even though reserves in the seven reservoirs of Chonburi Province are consistent, there are no connecting pipelines from the other reservoirs to Mab Prachan, and тАЬthis is cause for concern.тАЭ
Boonsom Yutithampinyo, of the Chonburi Royal Irrigation Department, said that the amount of untreated water currently available for the entire province is sufficient. The latest survey, dated May 9, showed a total reserve of 92 million cubic meters, compared with the same date last year, which had only 69 million cubic meters of water. In 2005, there was a sever drought when there was only 36 million cubic meters.
тАЬThe capacity of all seven reservoirs is however 180 million cubic meters of water, which is quite adequateтАЭ he said, тАЬbut we need better management of our storage reserves.тАЭ

Mr. Preecha Chimkua, manager of the Water Service Department of East WaterтАЩs Chachoengsao- Chon Buri Operations Center and Ekasit Ngampiches, GM Grand Sol├й Hotel.
Thanee Thongprachom, manager of the Pattaya Waterworks Authority said that in the past there was a system at the Banglamung Filtration Station to pump water to the Mab Prachan reservoir, but that the equipment was antiquated and had deteriorated so much that it was not functional anymore.
He said that it would require cooperation between the government authorities to remedy this. He recommended Pattaya City hold future meetings to discuss this matter.
Chanyuth Hengtrakul, former MP for Chonburi, said that PattayaтАЩs population currently consumes an average of 130 thousand cubic meters of water every day, and the volume is increasing as the city grows.

Mr. Boonsom Yutithampinyo, Chonburi Royal Irrigation Department officer.
Currently, East Water provides more than 50 percent of the untreated water, and the remainder is from the Mab Prachan and Chaknok reservoirs. These reservoirs depend on water from natural resources, so when there is a drought a water shortage would re-occur.
Chanyuth said, тАЬFor the last couple of years, there had been excitement at the assurance that the pipeline between Bangpra Reservoir and the Naklua Water Filtration Station would ensure that Mab Prachan would also receive water, but unfortunately that didnтАЩt materialize.тАЭ
тАЬCurrently, the Naklua Water Filtration Station is closed for service, but when made functional again, the pipeline could be used for filling up and storing water at Mab Prachan Reservoir.
тАЬThis could solve the problem for the long term. The project would require a budget of more than 200 million baht.тАЭ
Chanyuth assured everyone that he would contact the provincial governorтАЩs office in Chonburi and ask for an emergency budget to remedy the situation.
Chanyuth added that in the long term, water pipes could be laid from the water storage area in Chachoengsao, running from the Phra-ongchao Chaiyanuchit Canal to the Nongkor Reservoir for further transfer to the Mab Prachan Reservoir. This method would ensure the flow of millions of cubic meters of water every year. This would however be a major project, he said, тАЬbut can be done.тАЭ

Pattaya Mail

I just knew it! Bull shit for years over "We have enough water to service this community!" statements mean nothing.
Passing Mabrachan Reservoir today it was the fullest I have seen it for years so hope for plenty of rain this season to get through next year without cuts.
How many more units will need water this year compared to last?