Koh Samui Waterworks

[GWR]

Ko Samui seeking more water sources

The Deputy Minister of Interior, Mr. Suphol Fongngam, assigned the provincial administration of Surat Thani to find more natural water sources in Ko Samui district, aimed at supporting the growing numbers of tourists and residents.

Mr. Suphol inspected the waterworks system of Easter Company in Surat Thani province. The company uses the RO system to produce tap water from sea water, and the it is being distributed for public usage in Ko Samui.

Following the study of Ko Samui’s geography, the district has sufficient resources to produce tap water for its local people and tourists. Three locations have been found for producing tap water, and they can provide about 19,000 cubic meters of tap water. At the moment, the RO system can produce 3,000 cubic meters of tap water per day, but the amount is still inadequate for local consumption.

The Deputy Minister of Interior ordered relevant units in Surat Thani to continue to inspect the land areas of Ko Samui and determine whether the district is capable of storing raw water or not. The provincial authority will also study the possibility of laying the water pipelines from the sea to Ko Samui.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255106060031&news_headline=Ko

Do they perhaps mean, "The provincial authority will also study the possibility of laying the water pipelines ... under ... the sea to Ko Samui"?

[GWR]

Sea water to freshwater

Water is a fundamental source for human needs in everyday life. But on the island of Samui, water demand already exceeds supply. Seawater is therefore an option but how does this work? Let’s find out in this report from Thai News Agency.

Hin Lad waterfall is among the only three raw water resources in the popular Gulf of Thailand tourist destination of Samui.

Raw water is extracted from the waterfall, passed through a series of basic filters and then distributed to the island’s community.

However, in 2004, the irregular rainfall, an increasing number of tourists coupled the rising demand from the agricultural and business sectors and city expansion led to a water shortage on the island.

Warakorn Waraluck, a resident said “Water is a basic human need. Here people consume a lot of water in their everyday life. The water shortage has affected the tourism industry.”

To ease the crisis, seawater is proving an alternative source.

The Provincial Waterworks Authority has brought in ‘East Water’ company to construct a Reverse Osmosis plant, which can convert seawater into clean and usable freshwater. The system involves collecting seawater, filtering and desalinating it. The plant can generate about 1 million cubic metres of freshwater per year.

Praphant Asava-Aree, President, East Water Co. Ltd. said “Our system sifts out salt from the seawater. The water goes through a filtering process and is pure. You can drink it.”

With the current demand for water supply standing at around 5 million cubic metres a year, it is estimated within 5 years, annual freshwater demand will be over 7 million cubic metres, due to an incessant increase in Samui’s resident population and tourists.

Even though there are still natural resources and more water plants are to be built in the future, it will never be enough unless concerned authorities raise awareness among local residents and visitors about the value of water on the island. Everyone is being encouraged to help maintain Samui as a ‘living paradise.’

Last Update : 2008-08-09, 2008-08-09 (GMT+7:00)

With MCOT English News video clip:
http://enews.mcot.net/clip.php?nid=16251