Prachuap khiri khan: Artificial rainmaking efforts are being accelerated to replenish water levels in the Pranburi Dam, in response to the prolonged drought and El Ni±o event, as usable water levels have dropped to only 14%.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation is accelerating operations to replenish water in the Pranburi Dam, as usable water levels are only at 14 percent, in preparation for a potential drought at the end of June. Mr. Witthaya Kaewmee, Director-General of the department, revealed that the department has been closely monitoring the water situation in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The latest data from the Smart Water Operations Center (SWOC) and Irrigation Office 14 indicates that the Pranburi Dam has a water storage volume of 72.37 million cubic meters, or 19% of its total reservoir capacity of 391 million cubic meters. Meanwhile, the usable water volume is only 54.37 million cubic meters, or 14%.
The water level in the dam is still below the lower rule curve, which is a monitoring criterion for reservoir water management. Therefore, it is necessary to accelerate cloud seeding operations to increase water reserves in the reservoir to meet sufficient levels for consumption, agriculture, and water needs during the dry season. The amount of water flowing into the reservoir remains below normal. Since the start of the rainy season in mid-May, only about 9 million cubic meters of water have accumulated in the dam. Meanwhile, the dam has the responsibility of allocating water to more than 200,000 rai of irrigated agricultural land, as well as supporting raw water for tap water production, tourism, and public consumption in the area.
The Hua Hin Royal Rainmaking Operation Unit was instructed to continuously replenish water into the Pranburi Dam, as the usable water volume in the reservoir is only 14% of its capacity. The goal is to increase the reservoir's water level to over 50% by July-August, provided weather conditions are favorable for the operation. According to the Royal Irrigation Department, reservoirs nationwide currently hold a total of 44,944 million cubic meters of water, or 56% of their total storage capacity. Meanwhile, the usable water volume is 20,836 million cubic meters, or 37% of the total storage capacity. Therefore, while the overall water situation in the country is manageable, many areas still have limited water resources.
When considered by region, the western region had the highest water volume at 64 percent, followed by the southern region at 60 percent, the northern region at 54 percent, and the northeastern region at 46 percent. The central and eastern regions had water volumes of 29 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Of the four main dams in the Chao Phraya River basin, Bhumibol Dam has 56% of its capacity filled and Sirikit Dam 53%, while Khwae Noi Bamrung Dan Dam has only 27% and Pa Sak Chonlasit Dam has only 15%. This indicates that some areas still face risks regarding water reserves, even though the overall situation nationwide is still manageable.
Mr. Witaya emphasized that areas requiring special monitoring at this time include the central and eastern regions, which have water levels below the national average, as well as non-irrigated agricultural areas in several provinces that remain vulnerable to drought conditions due to their heavy reliance on rainfall. Mr. Witiya stated that, following instructions from Mr. Suriya Jungrungruangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has prepared to cope with the drought situation and the risks from the El Ni±o phenomenon. This comes after the Meteorological Department predicted that El Ni±o is likely to intensify towards the end of 2026 and may continue into 2027, potentially resulting in below-average rainfall in many areas and increasing the risk to water resources.
An inspection of the readiness of cloud seeding units nationwide revealed that they are prepared in terms of aircraft, personnel, and cloud seeding chemicals such as carbon dioxide, dry ice, and sodium chloride, in sufficient quantities to support the mission throughout this rainy season. Recently, a site visit was conducted to inspect the readiness of the Central Region Royal Rainmaking Operations Center in Phetchaburi Province. A laboratory and war room have been established to closely monitor weather conditions and water resources, assessing weather patterns and planning daily operations. If sufficient natural rainfall occurs, no weather modification will be undertaken. However, if a drought is anticipated or if major reservoirs show low water levels, operations will be initiated immediately. Currently, efforts have begun to replenish water in the Bhumibol Dam to ensure water security for the upcoming dry season.
Furthermore, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation prioritizes assisting agricultural areas outside irrigation zones, particularly the Thung Kula Rong Hai area in Roi Et province, a major source of jasmine rice in the country, as well as areas at risk of recurring water shortages in Roi Et and Si Sa Ket provinces, to prevent impacts on agricultural production during periods of expected drought. Although many areas currently have sufficient water reserves from accumulated rainfall last year, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has prepared resource management plans for aircraft, rainmaking chemicals, and budget should the drought situation be prolonged or the El Ni±o event be more severe than anticipated. Currently, the department receives a total budget of approximately 2,700 million baht per year, divided into approximately 2,100 million baht for committed investment and approximately 600 million baht for rainmaking operations, which is sufficient to support ra inmaking missions nationwide.
Mr. Witiya stated that the remaining period of the rainy season is crucial for increasing water reserves in reservoirs nationwide. The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation will closely monitor weather conditions to maximize water storage before the end of the year, when the Meteorological Department predicts that the El Ni±o phenomenon will intensify and potentially continue until 2027. This could impact rainfall and water resource security in many areas of the country.