The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has decided to divert more water into the irrigation systems on the eastern and western sides of the Chao Phraya River, upstream of the Chao Phraya Dam, to reduce the amount of water discharged through the dam to ease the pressure on downstream areas.
Witthaya Kaewmee, director general of the department, said that they will keep the amount of water discharged through the dam at the rate of 1,750 cubic metres per second (m3/s). The impacts on areas and people downstream of the dam along the Chao Phraya River and connected canals will be reduced.
The amount of water flowing through the C.2 gauging station in Nakhon Sawan upstream of the Chao Phraya Dam was measured at 1,795m3/s, up 18 m3/s from the previous day, he said, adding that the department will assess the amount of rainfall and upstream water volume to make the appropriate adjustments to water management.
Meanwhile, Thanet Somboon, director of the Water and Flood Management Office of the RID, said water discharged through the Chao Phraya Dam will flow along the Chao Phraya River into the Gulf. With the flow rate at 1,693m3/s in Bang Sai district of Ayutthaya, Bangkok will still be safe unless the amount of flow increases to 3,000m3/s.
He explained that the flooding in some areas of Bangkok is the result of accumulated rain water, but he warned that high tides next week might have an impact on riverside communities and those unprotected by the floodwall.
Regarding water in reservoirs across the country, he said the department is closely monitoring the situation to prevent the water stored in the reservoirs, particularly large ones, from exceeding 80% of their capacities.
Eight large reservoirs currently holding more than 80% of their capacities are Mae Ngad Somboonchon in Chiang Mai, Khiew Lom and Khiew Kor Ma in Lampang, Sirindhorn in Ubon Ratchathani, Srinagarindra and Vajiralongkorn in Kanchanaburi, Khun Dan Prakan Chon in Nakhon Nayok and Kaeng Krachan in Phetchaburi.
