Bangkok: Thammanat Prompao, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has declared that the water situation across the nation will return to normal by early January 2026. He strongly asserted that there will not be a repeat of the massive flooding experienced in 2011.
According to Thai News Agency, Colonel Thammanat provided updates on the water situation following a recent meeting with provincial irrigation directors and the director of the Royal Irrigation Department. The meeting highlighted a decrease in rainfall in the upper North and Northeast regions, while the southern region has seen increased rainfall. As a response, six southern provinces have been instructed to manage water resources meticulously.
Thammanat reported that the Bhumibol Dam’s water level is being controlled at approximately 45-48 million cubic meters, with Kiew Lom Dam at about 6 million cubic meters. The combined water discharge from both tributaries to the Chao Phraya Dam is around 54 million cubic meters per day. Orders for continuous water discharge have been issued on both the east and west banks to distribute water to tributaries, maintaining an average flow rate of 2,900 cubic meters per second. This rate is expected to persist for one week before gradually decreasing by mid-December, with a return to normalcy anticipated by early January 2026.
Residents near the Chao Phraya Dam, especially in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, have been instructed to release water into tributaries to push it into the Gulf of Thailand during low tide. Water pumps and boosters are ready to mitigate the situation. Thammanat acknowledged potential impacts in Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, and Pathum Thani but assured that the severity will not match 2011 levels.
Addressing concerns about potential storms, Colonel Thammanat emphasized that the government has preemptively planned for water management. However, the unpredictability of weather conditions has occasionally led to forecast inaccuracies. Neighboring countries are also experiencing similar challenges, necessitating continuous preparations. If no new storms arise, the situation is expected to stabilize as planned.
For regions still grappling with flooding, including Ayutthaya, Sing Buri, and Ang Thong, Thammanat recognized the significant impact. The government has tasked the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) to implement measures to address the current situation and prepare additional relief for those affected, particularly those enduring prolonged flood conditions for over three to four months.