Normally, this old temple building in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district would be half submerged with water at this time, but with the lack of rain, it is now easily accessible to tourists. KRIT PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
By Terry Fredrickson
With large dams almost empty and little rain in sight, an irrigation official says many parts of Thailand face the worst drought in 50 years.
Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning
Click button to listen rightclick to download
2014 drought 'worst in 50 years'
Chudet Sihawong
Only 25 percent of the capacity of the Sirikit dam in Uttaradit province is available for use near the start of what is likely to be a long dry season. PATIPAT JANTHONG
Low water reserves in two big dams in the Chao Phraya river basin will make drought this year the severest in 50 years, an irrigation director said on Sunday.
Suchart Charoensri, irrigation director in Manorom district of Chai Nat province, said water reserves were very low in the Sirikit and Bhumibol dams.
The Bhumibol dam in Tak province has a capacity of 13,462 million cubic metres but is holding only 5,147 million cubic metres. The reserve forms 38% of the total capacity but actually only 10% of the total capacity is usable.
The Sirikit dam in Uttaradit province has a capacity of 9,510 million cubic metres but a reserve of only 5,221 million cubic metres. The water amounts to 55% of the total capacity but only 25% of the capacity can be used.
Mr Suchart said the amount of water reserves in both dams had gradually dropped in the past ten years except for 2011, the year of severe flooding.
In addition to the low water reserves, the Meteorological Department predicts there will be very few storms in Thailand for the rest of this year. Therefore, Mr Suchart said, drought in the North, the Central Plains and the Northeast will span from this year until as late as June next year and will make the upcoming drought the severest in 50 years.
However, he expects the Irrigation Department to manage water reserves to minimise the impact.
To help with management, Mr Suchart said rice growers should refrain from planting a second crop and turn to plants which need less water. He also suggested farmers, especially those with livestock, reserve water in their ponds for use in the dry season.
He said farmers should not pump underground water to grow a second rice crop because that would not be a worthwhile use of the water.
Vocabulary
accessible: that can be reached, entered, used, seen, etc - ที่สามารถเข้าได้
basin: a large area of land whose surface water all flows into a particular river or lake - ลุ่มน้ำ
capacity: the total amount or number that can be contained - ปริมาณสูงสุดที่จะรับได้
cubic metre: the volume of a cube with edges one metre in length - ลูกบาศก์เมตร
drop: to become less - น้อยลง, ลดลง
drought: a long period of time when there is little or no rain - ฝนแล้ง, ภัยแล้ง, ความแห้งแล้ง)
gradually: slowly and in small stages or amounts - อย่างทีละน้อย
impact: an effect or influence - ผลกระทบ
irrigation: the process of bringing water to land through a system of pipes, ditches, etc. in order to make crops grow - ระบบชลประทาน
lack of: when there is not enough of something - ขาด
livestock: animals such as cows, sheep, chickens and pigs that are kept on farms - ปศุสัตว์
Meteorological Department: the government department in charge of determining what the weather will be in the future - กรมอุตุนิยมวิทยา
minimise: to reduce something harmful or unpleasant to the smallest amount or degree - ลดจำนวนลง
normally: usually; in normal circumstances - โดยปกติ, ตามปกติ
pond: a small area of still water, especially one that is artificial - บ่อน้ำ, สระน้ำ
predict: to say that an event or action will happen in the future, especially as a result of knowledge or experience - คาดการณ์ว่า พยากรณ์จากสถิติว่า
reserve: to keep something currently not being used but that can be used when needed - สำรองไว้
reserves: a supply of something that is available to be used in the future or when it is needed - สิ่งที่สงนไว้
severe: very serious and worrying - ที่รุนแรง ที่น่าเป็นห่วง
severest: the most serious; the strongest; the worst - สาหัส รุนแรงที่สุด
span: to take a certain amount of time - ใช้เวลา
submerged: under water - จมน้ำ
therefore: as a result of the reason that has just been mentioned - เพราะฉะนั้น, ดังนั้น
upcoming: happening soon; available soon - ซึ่งกำลังจะเกิดขึ้น, ซึ่งกำลังจะมา
worthwhile: useful, important or good enough to be a suitable reward for the money or time spent or the effort made - คุ้มค่ากับความพยายาม
