Bangkok: The Royal Irrigation Department is set to increase the water discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam to over 2,000 cubic meters per second, following the approval from the National Water Resources Committee. This decision comes in response to the increased floodwaters from the north and the persistent monsoon trough affecting the Central region. Communities both north and downstream of the dam have been advised to keep a close watch on the evolving water situation.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thanet Somboon, Director of the Office of Water Management and Hydrology at the Royal Irrigation Department, has reported a steady increase in the water flow into the Chao Phraya River, attributed to the recent heavy rainfall. The flow rate at Station C.2 in Mueang District, Nakhon Sawan Province, was recorded at 2,250 cubic meters per second this morning, with expectations of further increases. The National Water Resources Committee has sanctioned the department's proposal to increase water discharge through the Chao Phraya Dam to between 2,000 and 2,500 cubic meters per second. This change is likely to elevate the water level downstream by 40-60 centimeters. Currently, the dam is holding water at +17.18 meters above sea level. Should the water level exceed this threshold, riverside communities in Uthai Thani and Chainat provinces may be impacted. Consequently, Regional Irrigation Office 12 has been directed to maximize water intake into the irrigation system until the cana l's capacity is reached. Additional water influx from the north, combined with anticipated rainfall later this week, could necessitate further increases in water discharge from the dam.
The risk areas expected to experience rising water levels downstream include Chai Nat Province's Phonang Dam Ok Subdistrict and Ban Tha Sai in Sapphaya District; Wat Sing, In Buri District, Phrom Buri District, Wat Suea Kham, and Mueang Sing Buri District in Sing Buri Province; Wat Chaiyo, Thewarat Subdistrict, Chaiyo District, Pa Mok District, and Khlong Phong Pheng in Ang Thong Province; and Hua Wiang Subdistrict, Sena District, Lat Chit Subdistrict, and Tha Din Daeng Subdistrict in Phak Hai District of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, including areas along the Noi River and Khlong Bang Ban.
The Royal Irrigation Department has communicated with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to decrease water discharge from the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit Province, which will subsequently lower water levels in the Nan and Chao Phraya Rivers. In the lower Chao Phraya River basin, measures such as the installation and operation of water pumps and pushers are underway to facilitate water drainage into the Gulf of Thailand. Efforts to remove weeds and other obstructions from waterways are ongoing. Irrigation projects across various regions have been tasked with closely monitoring water levels and coordinating with relevant agencies to prepare for and mitigate any potential impacts on the public. The public is encouraged to stay updated through notifications from the Royal Irrigation Department.