Two major dams in the western province of Kanchanaburi, Vajiralongkorn Dam and Srinagarind Dam, are now discharging more water down the Mae Klong River following continuous rain influenced by a depression and the southwest monsoon.

The Royal Irrigation Department and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand have decided to discharge more water from the two dams as they expect more rainwater to flow into them during the next two to three months.

Vajiralongkorn Dam in Thong Pha Phum district on Aug 5 increased the water discharge from 36 million cubic metres to 39 million cu/m per day. The water discharge will be increased to 43 million cu/m per day from Aug 6.

Srinagarind Dam in Si Sawat district has increased its water release from 15 million cu/m per day to 20 million cu/m per day from Aug 5.

As a result, a larger volume of water will have to be released through the Mae Klong Dam, an irrigation dam across the Mae Klong River. The dam’s current water discharge rate is 60 million cu/m per day.

Therefore, people living downstream, particularly in Tha Maka district, have been advised to brace for a higher level of water in the Mae Klong River.