New Petchburi Pete Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 From The Nation: August 12, 2005 Pattaya hotel and tourism sector calls water problem a crisis "Government hiding the truth" CHONBURI: -- Hoteliers and tourism business operators in the popular seaside resort Pattaya of Thailand's eastern province of Chonburi meeting on Friday said they would ask their members of parliament (MP) to petition Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for a solution to the current water shortage. Speaking at a panel discussion on water shortage in the country's eastern provinces, Thanet Supornsahasrangsee, President of the Pattaya Travel and Tourism Association, said the government is still hiding the truth about the reality of the water crisis. The true extent of the water shortage is more severe than what the government portrays, he said. Pattaya needs 120,000 cubic metres of water per day , Mr. Thanet said, but East Water Company and the Royal Irrigation Department now provide the city with only 80,000 cubic metres a day. The 40,000 cubic metre shortfall, must be made up by residential customers and the business sector themselves who are forced to buy directly from commercial water supply trucks at 100 baht per cubic metre. He said the association would work with local MPs to negotiate an immediate solution to the water shortage crisis by meeting with the prime minister, warning that the problem, if prolonged would affect the local tourism and cost the nation billions of baht in a loss of tourism revenue. :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted August 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 The much heralded water shortage that has been developing for more than the lack of rain this 'rainy' season has become a crisis. Many devlopments ('villages') and apartment complexes now experience daily water shortages or outages. We were out in E. Pattaya tooling around on the motorbike a couple of days back; and, we were appalled to see where one small pumping operation had been set up ... a filthy mudhole. Small wonder residents and many laundromats are not able to properly wash their clothes. Frequently, cloths are ruined. I remember reading weeks ago that some hotels might be forced to close due to the unavailability of water. Who would decide which would close? I don't believe volunteers would be eager to step forward. Is it time for the government to consider a desalinization plant or plants? Surely, something needs to be done if the supply of water is to keep pace with the rampant development. If nothing is done, how could the real estate boom ever be sustained? This doesn't even begin to address the future traffic woes created by an obvious lack of planning. I don't think it's a question any longer of whether the bubble will burst, but rather when! And, the bursting of the bubble won't solve the water crisis! It's time to admit and face the reality of the situation. :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 water shortage in the rainy season? how will it be during the dry season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Scar isn't it. But I can see the mic under the Beloved Leaders face when he states into the camera that everything is under control and there's no reason to worry. Maybe Pattaya should move to Koh Chang. Apparently everything runs smoothly overthere. Wonder how that's possible. Similar problems on Samui though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jxxxl Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 limbo said:Scar isn't it. But I can see the mic under the Beloved Leaders face when he states into the camera that everything is under control and there's no reason to worry. Maybe Pattaya should move to Koh Chang. Apparently everything runs smoothly overthere. Wonder how that's possible. Similar problems on Samui though. Seems like the PM's standard line for most of these insurmountable problems is, "we will initiate a study of the problem then I will implement a plan to fix it". One-sentence patronizing answers to complex problems, now that's leadership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted August 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Seriously, I don't think this crisis is the result of one drier than normal rainy season. In my development, we always have water. But, the price has risen; and, I believe it will continue to do so. Also, it is not as clean as it used to be, not that we ever drank it. We use Amtech delivery ... reverse osmosis 'cleaned' & only 40 Bt. for a large, sealed bottle (? 17.9 liters ... it's in Thai, so don't quote me on this ... but, the weight would seem to indicate the volume is correct!). For my own info, would anyone happen to know the average cost and yield/day of a desalinization plant? Priorities: the median in Sukhumvit was expanded in certain areas, and new plantings put in. Despite the water shortage, the city of Pattaya freely waters the new plantings each day, often at noon or mid-day! Oh, and if folks visit, and it rains and they encounter brief, flash floods on Second or Third Road, it's not from an excess of rain or as a result of a failing drainage system ... the system is fine. The floods result from the fact that the drains are clogged with trash! :: (now don't be shocked!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jxxxl Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 New Petchburi Pete said:For my own info, would anyone happen to know the average cost and yield/day of a desalinization plant? I'm no expert, but I've read that desalinization is very expensive. It apparently is a slow process and requires a very large plant to produce any meaningful volumes. If this is true, I couldn't see it ever being implemented in Thailand. Although, it could be a very nice opportunity for backhander to a government official, so maybe yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 could be similar to the energy "criisis" throw enough money at it and it will go away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khun_Kong Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 Apparently, you missed the report in last week's BKK Post, which proves that there is no water crisis. I don't have the link to the article, but here is a summary: "Thaksin says no water crisis." I'm not making this up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted August 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 ... there probably is no water crisis in his swimming pool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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