Late-season downpours and steps taken by the Royal Irrigation Department have given Pattaya enough water to last throughout all of 2015, water-supply managers told city business leaders.
Speaking at the Dec. 16 Pattaya Business & Tourism Association meeting, Norapat Ketprakong, representative from the East Water Co., said the irrigation department said there will be enough water for residences and businesses throughout next year due to abundant rainfall that has refilled area reservoirs to an average 60 percent level.
(From left): Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay, Pol. Col. Supathee Boonkrong, and PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn present baht bus driver Ornchorn Wongraruen a reward for chasing down two bag thieves.
The department also has held 14 million cu. meters of water in reserve while continuing to pump water from the Prasae Canal in Rayong to Nong Plalai.
Since August, 20 million cu. meters have been pumped from the Prasae, but the water flow recently stopped so the department could do pipe maintenance. The pumping will resume next year, Norapat said.
Sutad Noochpan, manager for the Provincial Waterworks Authority, acknowledged that, despite ample supplies, water has been scarce for some Pattaya residents. However, the PWA recently determined that the reason for the outages stemmed from ill-intentioned people turning off valves and stopping water in several neighborhoods.
The PWA has urged Banglamung District to implement measures to prevent tampering with the water supply, Sutad said.
In other business, PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn reviewed recent bag-snatching crimes.
He said police presented a reward and good-citizen award to baht bus driver Ornchorn Wongraruen who chased down two bag thieves, which resulted in her brother getting shot when the robbers opened fire on her taxi. The PBTA and police also covered her brother’s hospital bill.
In a second incident, A Russian tourist was injured after being hit by a stray bullet fired by a police officer at fleeing bag snatchers. Police and representatives from the Pattaya Tourist Assistance Fund visited the tourist in the hospital and presented her with 20,000 baht and a flower basket.
Both cases, Sinchai said, could be considered lessons for tourists to brace themselves against dangers around them.
Pattaya’s police chief, Pol. Col. Supathee Bungkhrong said how tourists dress – in particular how much jewelry they wear – can be a factor in crime. He warned tourists to be more careful and not invite robbery by wearing precious items.
He said patrols on Walking Street have been stepped up, but warned tourists about soliciting prostitutes, as are know to drug and rob unsuspecting johns.
