2004 TSUKUBA ASIAN SEMINARON AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION (TASAE)
November 9 (Tues.) – 15 (Mon.), 2004
AGRICUTURAL AND FORESTRY RESEARCH CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBAJAPANWATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
IN THAILAND

By

Jesda Kaewkulaya, Ph.D.
Associated Professor, and Vice President
Department of Irrigation Engineering
Kasetsart University, Thailand

WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN THAILAND
Jesda Kaewkulaya, Ph.D.1-----------------------

1. General Information about Thailand
1.1 GeographicalThailand, a tropical land in the center of Indochina Peninsula, is bordered on
the north by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), on the east by the Lao PDR
and Cambodia, on the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and on the west by Unionof Myanmar and the Andaman Sea. The total land area is about 513,100 km2 with the present
population of about 60 million inhabitants.
Rainfall during the southwest monsoon, i.e. May to October, accounts for 85
to 90 per cent of the annual rainfall and varies significantly over the different parts of thecountry. The annual rainfall is about 1,200 mm in the northern mountainous region, 1,300
mm in the central plain, below 1,000 mm in the western strip of the north-east plateau andincreases to 1,600 mm towards the far east end of the north-east plateau. The east coast
peninsula receives additional rainfall from the northeast monsoon during November throughJanuary and annual rainfalls of 1,800 mm and 2,500 mm are observed over the eastern andwestern coasts of the peninsula respectively.
1.2 Agricultural Sector
Thailand in fact is today recognised as one of the world’s most important anddiverse food producers. Year-round sunshine regular rainfall, fertile soil, and mile upon mileof open coastline have given the kingdom a long tradition of agriculture and fishery, while arich cultural heritage has evolved a highly distinctive cuisine.
Total agricultural area is about 265,200 km2 , where only 49,600 km2(18.70%) has been irrigated. The main agricultural products are :- rice, rubber, maize,
cassava, sugarcane fruits and vegetables. The utilization of farm holding land of about 51%
is paddy land with yield 4.4 tons/ha of rice.
In 1998, Thailand can produce 20 million tons of rice from the whole country
Region
Northeast
North
Central
South
Total

Total area
(km2)
168,850
169,640
103,900
70,710513,100

Agricultural area
(km2)
92,57046,75043,58029,060211,960

%
54.82
27.56
41.94
41.10
41.31
1

Irrigated area
(km2)
8,182
12,48821,625
4,840
47,135% Agricultural area
Irrigated
8.84
26.71
49.62
16.65
22.24

Associated Professor and Vice President,
Department of Irrigation Engineering, Kasetsart
University, Thailand

2. Water Resources Information22.1 Surface Water Resources
Thailand, with an area of about 513,100 km2 , can be divided hydrologicallyinto 25 river basins. The average annual rainfall for all over the country is about 1,700 mm.
The total volume of water from the rainfall in all river basins in Thailand is estimated at
800,000 million m.3, of which 75 per cent or around 600,000 million m.3 is lost throughevaporation, evapotranspiration and infiltration and the remaining 25 per cent of 200,000
million m.3 constitutes the runoff that flows in rivers and streams. While the population ofThailand is around 60 million. Therefore, the availability of water resources is 3,300 m.3 perperson each year which is statistically considered to be highly adequate. The data on surface
water resources in Thailand are as shown below :Region

Totalarea(km2)

Population(million)

Average annual
runoff (million m3)

Northeast
North
Central
South
Total

168,850
169,640
103,900
70,710513,100

21.10
11.76
20.01
7.94
60.81

50,59051,06542,81964,776
209,250

Runoff/Capita(m3/capita/year
)
2,398
4,342
2,140
8,158
3,441

% of
total runoff
24.18
24.40
20.46
30.96
100

2.2 Groundwater Resources
Groundwater is an important source of water supply in Thailand. Public watersupplies for one - fifth of the nation’s 220 towns and cities and for half of the 700 SanitaryDistricts are derived from groundwater. It is estimated that 75 per cent of domestic water isobtained from groundwater sources. Groundwater system in Thailand is mainly recharged byrainfall of about 40,000 million m.3 and seepage from the rivers. It was estimated fromprevious hydrological balance studies that about 12.5 to 18 per cent of rainfall would
infiltrate the soils and about 9 per cent of rainfall would reach the aquifers. However, thisestimate is valid only for the basins under favorable geologic conditions such as those in the
Northern Highlands, the Upper Central Plain and along the Gulf Coastal Plain. For the otherbasins such as those in the Lower Central Plain including Bangkok and in the Khorat Plateau,
it was estimated that only 5-6 per cent of rainfall reaches the aquifer.
More than 200,000 groundwater well projects were undertaken by bothgovernment and private with total capacity of about 7.55 million m.3/day. (2,700 million m.3/year)
It is estimated that 75 per cent of domestic water is obtained from groundwater
sources which can be served approximately 35 million of people invillages and urbans area.
2.3 Water Provision and Water Demand
The average annual rainfall of the whole country is about 1,700 mm. ranging
from 1,200 mm annually in the north and central plain up to 2,000 - 2,700 mm. in thewestern part of the south and the eastern part of the country. About 29% of the surface runoff,approximately 70,770 mcm. annually, is kept in various sizes of about 650 large and medium
scale together with 60,000 small scale water resources development projects all over the
kingdom covering about 31 million rai (4.96 million ha.) irrigable area.
Although the water resources development programme has been implemented
continuously for more than 80 years, but rapid rural development, industrialization, tourist

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development and income growth raise the water demand for domestic use, agriculture andother purposes drastically. Inefficient use of water by various sectors and deteriorating water
quality due to excessive use of fertilizer and pesticides, urban sewage and industrial wastes
also create more serious problems to availability and adequacy of water resources. The
present water demand for irrigable areas and other uses for the whole country is estimated to
be 68,000 mcm./year and expected to be 86,000 mcm./year in 2006. Hence, the nation isfacing serious supply constraints to further growth due to various impacts problems in thewater resources development scheme.
3. National Water Vision and Policy
3.1 National Water Vision
The Office of the National Water Resources Committee (ONWRC) obtained
partial financial support from SEATAC of GWP to organize a national consultation meetingfor “National Vision on Water for Thailand” during 21 and 22 July 1999 attended by 100
high level officials of the government agencies and representatives from academic
institutions, NGO’s, the press corps as well as distinguished individuals.
Through the elaboration of the group, a national vision statement was
concluded and read “By the year 2025, Thailand will have sufficient water of goodquality for all users through an efficient management, organizational and legal systemthat would ensure equitable and sustainable utilization of its water resources with due
consideration on the quality of life and participation of all stakeholders”.
3.2 National Water Policy
1)
Accelerate the promulgation of the Draft Water Act to be theframework for national water management by reviewing the draft and implementing allnecessary steps to have the act effective, including reviewing existing laws and regulations.
2)Create water management organizations both at national and river
basin levels with supportive laws. The national organization is responsible for formulating
national policies. Monitoring and coordinating activities to fulfill the set policies. The river
basin organizations are responsible for preparing water management plans through aparticipatory approach.
3)
Emphasize suitable and equitable water allocation for all water use
sectors, and fulfill basic water requirements in agriculture and domestic uses. This will beaccomplished by establishing efficient and sustainable individual river basin water use
priorities under clear water allocation criteria, incorporating beneficiaries’ cost sharing basedon ability to pay and level services.
4)
Formulate clear directions for raw water provision and development
compatible with the basins’ potentials and demands, and ensuring suitable quality whileconserving the natural resources and maintaining the environment.
5)
Provide and develop raw water resources for farmers extensively andequitably in response to water demand for sustainable agricultural and domestic uses, similar
to deliveries of other government basic infrastructure services.
6)
Include water related topics at all levels of educational curriculum so
as to create awareness for water value, understanding the importance of efficient water
utilization, necessity and responsibility in maintaining natural and man made water sources.
7)
Promote and support participation, including clear identification of its
procedures, clear guidelines on right and responsibility of the public, non-government and4

government organizations in efficient water management. The water management includes
water utilization, water source conservation, monitoring and preservation of water quality.
8)
Accelerate preparation of plans for flood and drought protections,
including warning, damage control and rehabilitation efficiently and equitably with proper
utilization of land and other natural resources.
9)
Provide sufficient and sustainable financial support for action
programs in line with the national policy, including water related research, public relation,
information collection and technology transfer to public.
4. Integrated Water Resources Management
Development and conservation of water resources on various scales, comprise of
potential, coordinate public and private sector efforts in management and maintenance ofexisting water resources. According to the guidelines in the 8th National Plan (1996 – 2001)
the development and conservation of both surface and groundwater resources will be asystematic river basin approach with regard to economic and social factors as well as
environmental impact.
There re a number of agencies dealing independently with water resourcesmanagement resulting in work duplications and lack of cooperation among themselves,
therefore, in 1996 the Office of the National Water Resources Committee was established inorder that it will work as apex body for the management of water resources. In order to havebetter integrated water resources management in all regions, the river basin committees arealso planned to established in 25 river basins all over the country in the near future.
Since there is no comprehensive act on water resources and moreover the existing
regulations being used by various government agencies are differently, therefore, it isessential practice for all agencies concerned. Presently, the draft on water resources Act has
been formulated and being on the proceeding of submission to the cabinet.
The master plan on water resources development, water allocation, water
conservation, flood mitigation and water quality will be formulated for all 25 river basins. It
is planned to set up the uniform measures and analytical methods to assess data and establish
a data network system for possible exchanging and disseminating of the information.
5. Establishment of River Basin Organization
There are many government agencies and private parties involved in the development
and exploitation of the Basin’s surface and groundwater resources, but cooperation andcoordination between them is weak. Even when cooperation between operating agencies
leads to plans for equitable allocate water, they are often challenged by the various interested
parties affected. The result is often a compromise that postpones the problem to a later date.
In view of the lack of coordination, the government decided to establish a central agency inwater resources management in order to formulate plans, coordinate plan implementation andcarry out other works concerning management of water resources. The Office of the National
Water Resources Committee (NWRC) was established in November 1996. Since its
establishment, the NWRC has worked to strengthen the mechanism of integrated water
resources management in Thailand. A notable step forward was the drafting of a water
resources law that was recently submitted to the Cabinet. In order to implement the law, ariver basin organization or commission will be established in each of Thailand’s river basins.
This recognizes the need for decentralization as an important step in water resourcesmanagement. According to the draft law, each river basin commission will consist ofqualified persons drawn from public and private sectors. A commission will set policy onwater resources planning, development, operation of facilities, and water allocation, and it

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will oversee all related activities in the river basin including the resolution of water conflicts
between various users.
5.1 Chao Phraya Basin Organization
The Chao Phraya Basin with an area of a 160,000 sq. km is the largest of
Thailand’s 25 river basins. The Chao Phraya provides water for the capital city of Bangkok,
other large cities, many of the country’s main industries, and for irrigation systems covering
1,635,800 ha. Two large reservoirs, Bhumipol on the Ping River and Sirikit on the Nan River,and some smaller reservoirs store the monsoon flows for use in the dry season. As a result of
the high degree of regulation provided by these reservoirs almost 75% of the average annual
inflow of 36,600 million cubic meters (mcm) is consumed in the Basin. In the dry season, thepolicy is to give priority to the minimum flows needed to keep salt water from municipal andindustrial water supply intakes in the Lower Chao Phraya. But this is in conflict with thedemands of farmers who want to grow a dry-season crop. Within the irrigation systems there
are also conflicts since the area available for dry-season cropping far exceeds the water
available. Such competition and conflicts between users is found in all the sub-basins of the
Chao Phraya. Conflicts in quantity are compounded by conflicts in quality, with downstream
users suffering the effects of upstream pollution. The Basin also faces a growing problem inthe management of groundwater resources. Almost half of Bangkok’s supply comes fromgroundwater exploitation that is not sustainable, and this problem is spreading to other partsof the Basin. Every year the problems and conflicts in the Chao Phraya Basin multiply and,in recent years, abnormally low levels in the reservoirs have sometimes led to situations thatcame close to closing down the water intakes to Bangkok.
The 1997 report financed by PHRD, the “Chao Phraya Water Resources
Management Strategy,” found that the establishment of a Chao Phraya Basin Organization isessential to the effective management of the Basin’s water resources. The establishment ofsuch and organization would provide valuable experience for setting up similar organizationsin other river basins.
5.2 Pilot Case Study of River Basin Committee
The study of establishment of Chao Phraya basin organization should be
performed as a pilot case study so that when the water law is enforced, the river basin
commission will be immediately set up according to the result of the study.
To study the establishment and operation of Chao Phraya basin organizationor commission which will be set up in the future when the water law is enforced, such thecommission must compose of appropriate function and composition. Rules and regulations
to support its work must be delineated. The study also includes clear determination of its
roles and relations to other agencies and its staff office to support its administrative work.
This study will also be considered as a case study for establishment of the commissions inother river basins.
In 1999, ONWRC has been working with major water-related agencies, water
users, NGOs, farmers’ cooperatives, academics, and local governments to establish three
River Basin Committees (RBCs) of Upper Ping, Lower Ping, and Pasak. There is a great
concern of ONWRC to keep the initial models and methods quite flexible to allow someappropriate adjustment during the pilot operation. ONWRC also appointed the RBC-support
teams to provide managerial and technical support to the establishment.
5.3 River Basin Committee Structure6

Upper Ping RBC and Lower Ping RBC have been established with two
different models. The organization structure is based on administrative area representation(district and sub-district) and sub-watershed. It was a great concern on the proportion ofmembership, selection process, representation, qualification, and appointment. ONWRC has
provided supports in increase the representation of NGOs and local academic/ research
institutions as well as the selection procedures. With limited time frame, the first round of
selection and appointment were mainly depended on the advices of the district office. Then,the initial appointment is required from official regulations to have legal status of RBC
before any activities can be organized to use the budget, personnel support, and otherresources. Then, this is considered as an interim RBCs which can be flexible to allow somefuture adjustment in term of scale and composition to increase appropriate representation andaccountability. There are some interest and cooperation from local NGOs and academics totake part in the RBCs and activities.
The structure has the secretary team and management support as secretariat
offices working to link directly with ONWRC for all workshop, meetings, consultation, andselection & appointment. The Provincial Office and RID Regional Office are working toprovide the office base for the Secretariat Office of the Lower Ping and Upper Ping.
River Basin Committee of Upper Ping
NWRC

ONWRC-RBC
Supporting Team

2 Provinces
ONWRC

Chiang Mai
Lam Phun

15 Sub-River
BasinsProvincial
Development
Committee

River Basin Committee
Of Upper Ping Region

Agencies
Regional andProvincial

Secretariat
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary

4 WorkingGroups

Sub-River Basin
Committee

Sub-River Basin
Committee

Sub-River Basin
Committee

Support Plan Formulation
Support and Integrate information
Provide Annual Budget
Provide Technical and Managerial Support

Working Group

Working Group

Working Group

Plan Formulation
Project (15)Information System(15)

Public Relation (15)Working Group
Coordination (15)
Select 5 persons to be
RBC members

Each SRBC select 4 persons to join the working groups to be responsible for producing
action plan in three major activities relating to 1) action plan formulation 2) information
system 3) public relation and participation.

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River Basin Committee of Lower Ping
NWRC
ONWRC

3 Provinces
Nakhon Sawan
Tak
Kamphaeng
Phet

Provincial
Administration
Provincial
Development
Committee

River Basin Committee

Agencies at
Regional andProvincial

Of Lower Ping Region

ONWRC-RBC
Supporting Team-

Information-

Management &Technical support

Secretariat
Secretary
Assistant Secretary

15 District

District

District

District

District

Assistant Secretary
Support Plan Formulation

3 WorkingGroupsWorking Group

Working Group

Working Group

Support and Integrate information

Action Plan/Planning

Action Plan/Planning

Action Plan/Planning

Provide Annual Budget

11 agencies’ staff
and15 farmer waterusers

11 agencies’ staff
and15 farmer waterusers

11 agencies’ staff
and15 farmer water
users

Provide Technical and Managerial
SupportEach district select three farmer water users to join the working groups of three major
activities: 1) action plan 2) information system 3) public relation and participation

8

5.4 River Basin Committee Composition
ONWRC has initiated RBC structure with a combination of both agencies’
members and the private stakeholders from all sectors including NGOs and academics. In theUpper Ping, there are two to three members from NGOs and academics joining SRBCs, andthree of them in RBC structure. Generally, it was designed that membership of government
agencies and local stakeholders / water users would be a ratio of 1 person: 1 person or 50
percent of each group. In practice, the RBC may have a larger percentage of the non-agencygroup. While the accountability of membership and selection process require further
improvement, the representation is reasonably appropriate at this initial stage of RBC
establishment.
River Basin Committee
Composition

ProposedUpper Mun

1. Agency

14

2. Water Users andStakeholder
3. Local Administration

15(PAO, TAO)
4. NGO
5. Academics, researcher,
independent scholar
Total

Thatapao

Upper
Ping

Lower
Ping

Pasak

18

20

22

23

22

9

6

4

6

6

9
4

11
-

2
1

3
1

3
1

5
45

1
38

2
31

2
35

2
34

7
36

Note: 1. Chairman, Deputy Chairman: Governor, Vice Governor

2. Committee: Agencies, Stakeholders, Local Administration,
NGO, Academics, Scholars, and Private sector

3. Committee & Secretary: RID Regional Office

4. Committee & Deputy Secretary: Head of Provincial Office, RID - Engineer

5.5 River Basin Committee Responsibilities
Initially, RBCs have been designed to have three major responsibilities
including addressing priorities in water resource issues, to promote public education andsustainable water resource management, and to facilitate local public consultations withstakeholders and beneficiaries.
RBC’s responsibilities are explained as possible responsibilities in relation to
the SRBCs/ Regional Committee, Working Groups, and Secretariat Office. There are six
major possible responsibilities of RBC. In addition a new possible responsibility for RBC
which should deal with the conflict resolutions and the problem solving between the subriver basins and between the related local and regional agencies. The proposed selection
process could retain the representative of the sub-river basins in the planning process and tostrengthen their representation at RBC level. The working groups should work to prepare thedraft action work plan, which would be reviewed by SRBCs / and approved by RBC.
RBC should further expand their key responsibilities to include conflict
resolutions, an abstraction license, and revenue collection. These will enable RBCs to growstronger, and also to develop to be a decentralized decision making body which are semiDoc NoTA3260THA Rev1 Date:3/12/04¥¥Hp4100¥section4¥01-国際交流¥01-ＴＡＳＡＥ¥Country Reports¥2004¥タイ¥Paper for presentation in Tsukuba Seminar.doc

9

independent from ONWRC and RID in the future. RBCs, therefore, have to improve theircapacity to carry out their own financial management.
6. Development Plan for River Basin Committee Establishment
ONWRC is currently working through five RBC-Support Teams to plan and prepare
for the establishment of RBCs in Upper Ping, Lower Ping, Thatapao, Upper Mun, and Pasak.
In July 2000, the plan for Upper Mun and Thatapao has been prepared and approved for theaction by NWRC. After the initial visits and discussion in Upper Mun, the team is preparing
for the first group consultation with key agencies, NGOs, and water users of Korat, Roi-Et,
and Surin. The discussion in Thatapao also leads to the planning and preparation in details of
the establishment of RBCs. Thatapao and Upper Mun RBC have been finalized with thestakeholder workshop in October and November 2000.
In 2001, ONWRC plan to establish another two river basin committees in Eastern
coast and Bang Pakong-Prachinburi river basin in eastern region of Thailand.
7. Conclusion and Recommendation
RBCs currently do not work independently, but carry out all designed activities
through authorization by NWRC and support of ONWRC and RID. Law provision currently
makes ONWRC to function and continue being an umbrella organization for RBC activities
after an approval and appointment by NWRC. Before the new Water Law enactment, it isrecommend that RBC and ONWRC should take two major strategies. RBC Program
development is suggested to be an important step to allow legal, political, technical, andfinancial support grow with the strength of each RBC for a preparation to be Independent
private body within 5 years, and financially efficient in revenue and abstraction of license in
8 years.
Thus, the recommend two strategies are as follows :1.)
Building an institutional and technical support program and further develop to
be an RBC Support Division under ONWRC and technical unit attached to RBCs;
2.)
Establish capacity in information, research, training, and public education andrelation for supporting establishment and strengthening RBCs.

-------------------------------

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