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Heavy rain increases water levels: river chaos threatens Thailand!
Persistent rains in Thailand are increasing river levels. The Royal Irrigation Department outlines flood management measures.
Heavy rain increases water levels: river chaos threatens Thailand!
The current weather situation in Thailand is causing worried faces: persistent and heavy rains from November 2nd to 4th have caused water levels to rise sharply in the catchment areas of the Ping, Yom and Nan rivers. The Royal Irrigation Department's (RID) Smart Water Operation Center (SWOC) reports that this rainfall has significantly increased water inflows into main rivers and reservoirs. The Chao Phraya River is particularly affected, with water levels rising again.
In order to deal with the situation, RID has drawn up a two-part water management plan. As part of upstream management, water is retained at large dams. Both the Bhumibol Dam in Tak and the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit, with the support of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), retain as much water as possible to minimize outflows into the Chao Phraya Basin. Despite these measures, water levels at Station C.2 in Nakhon Sawan continue to rise, due to rainfall in the lower reaches and additional inflows from the Yom and Sakae Krang rivers.
Water management measures
As part of the Chao Phraya Dam management, the plan is to maximize water discharge into the irrigation canals on both sides of the river. Forecasts suggest excess water will need to be released below the Chao Phraya Dam at an estimated rate of 2,700 cubic meters per second to avoid flooding in the lower reaches.
Meanwhile, the dams are in a critical situation: According to the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), four large dams in the Chao Phraya River system are over 90% full. Sirikit Dam, also known as Queen Sirikit Dam, is currently 97% full. This impressive earthfill dam, opened in 1974, has a height of 113.6 meters and a total capacity of 9.51 billion cubic meters. Its main purpose is irrigation, flood control and hydroelectric power generation.
Flooding and flood hazards
The recent rains are not the first this season and many provinces have already been affected. Flooding was reported in 16 provinces covering a total of 77 districts, including Sukhothai, Nakhon Sawan and Phitsanulok. The authorities are calling on the population in these vulnerable areas to closely monitor weather reports and follow the instructions of civil protection authorities. The weather forecasts also show that even heavier rain is expected in the coming days, which could further exacerbate the tense water conditions.
Given the ever-present risk of flooding, water levels in the lower Chao Phraya Basin also remain tense. The measuring station C.2 in Nakhon Sawan has a flow of 2,845 m³/s and is 1.12 meters below the bank edge. Chainat discharges 2,500 m³/s, while station C.29B in Sam Khok measures a discharge of 2,140 m³/s.
The coming days and weeks will show whether the water management strategies of RID and EGAT can defuse the situation. What is certain is that the Thai population will need a good hand in preparing properly in these difficult times.