NONG KHAI – Water pumps are being installed to allocate water from Mekong River to provide more water for consumption to the drought affected public, starting from March.
Irrigation officials are now installing water pumps and pipes to supply water from the Mekong River to service the drought affected public in Nong Khai and Udon Thani provinces, using one pumping station and one temporary pumping station.
The first pumping station is being constructed at a section of Mekong River before the Huai Luang Anusorn Bridge in Phon Phisai District, Nong Khai, while the second station has already been constructed at a river section beyond Huai Luang water gate.
It is expected that the system will be operational by March 2016. The pumping system will be capable of drawing 47 million cubic meters of water to supply up to 12,000 rais of irrigation areas during the dry season, and can even retain some water for tap water production.
Farmers will be allowed to continue their rice farming by pumping water from the supply pipes into their farmland using electric water pumps.
