Despite the restoration of tap water last night, residents in drought-stricken Pathum Thani should be prepared for further water shortages in future, Thanyaburi district authorities said.
Thitinun Charoen-arg, Sanan Rak municipal clerk in Thanyaburi district, said tap water production had resumed after the Department of Royal Irrigation diverted water to Khlong Rapeepat. However, the good news will not last as the Provincial Waterworks Authority does not have enough water to continue tap water production, she said.
The municipality has told residents of the situation, said Ms Thitinun, adding officials will monitor water demand and ensure there is enough water distribution for public consumption.
She said the municipality had been aware of the drastic decrease of water levels in the canals a month ago and prepared an alternative water source — a private company's 30-rai pond which the municipality has been allowed to use for tap water production — which will last about 15 days.
Ms Thitinun said hospitals, schools, temples and homes are the priorities, adding that Mahavajiralongkorn Thanyaburi Hospital has its own underground water source.
A student at Wat Anyikaram Temple School said tap water at his school was running but he didn't take a bath yesterday as his mother needed to save the limited amount of water for household use.
Saengaroon Plabplee, 49, said her restaurant had been closed since Sunday after the taps ran dry, saying it was the biggest drought she had experienced. "I never thought this would happen in a province near the capital," she said, saying her family of seven had to be careful with their water consumption.
Taweep Chinglam, president of Ban Aua-Arthon village in Klong 9, said about 500 families were suffering from the water shortage. State agencies have provided the village with water while locals are being careful with their limited supplies.
About 30% of 20,000 families in the district have been provided with water, Ms Thitinun said. About one million cubic metres of water will be distributed to all families in the district.
Meanwhile, the army's peacekeeping unit in Thanyaburi district sent six trucks, holding 6,000 cu/m of water each, to deliver water to locals yesterday. A mobile unit will also be set up at the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in Klong 6, providing 36,000 litres each day.
Sujura Khojitmate, the assistant dean, said HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn had given permission to use water from the royal Rama IX reservoir in Pathum Thani to increase water supply to the university from 2,000 to 2,500 cu/m a day.