BANGKOK, March 24 – Industrial estates in Bangkok’s outskirts have been told to reserve water and reduce their consumption in light of an approaching drought, according to the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT).
IEAT governor Verapong Chaiperm said water in reservoirs and dams has been depleted while sea water has surged into the Chao Phraya River, resulting in salty water at higher levels than in past years.
The saltwater will affect industrial manufacturing while industrialists have been warned to prepare for the undesirable situation, he said.
Four major industrial estates under the IEAT supervision are Saha Rattana Nakhon, Bang Wah, Bang Pa-in and Nong Khae with a total water consumption of 1.64 million cubic metres per month.
All the industrial estates partially produce and reserve water for their consumption.
Mr Verapong said the IEAT has closely followed the water situation from reports of the Royal Irrigation Department, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and the Provincial Water Works Authority, and regularly inform industrialists on the latest phenomenon so that they can work out their preparations.
