According to local estimates, there is barely enough water for the next 30 days.
Koh Samui, a popular tourist destination on Thailand’s east coast, is facing a severe water shortage. According to a report, the authorities are working tirelessly to ensure that the island, famous for its white sandy beaches, picturesque temples and luxury resorts, does not become a “disaster zone”. Guardian,
There has been a marked decline in the water levels of many water reservoirs, including the Phra Na Mueang and Phra Krajud reservoirs and the Hin Lard waterfall, exacerbating the freshwater crisis.
According to local estimates, there is barely enough water for the next 30 days. The water is also running out in the taps in the resorts on the holiday spot, causing loss to the tourists visiting the island.
Koh Samui’s deputy mayor Sutham Samthong urged the public to use resources judiciously as the lack of rain and tourism increasingly looms large. They claim that with proper management, the island’s supply of fresh water will last for the next two months, after which rain is predicted. Mr. Samthong told The Guardian, “We are not satisfied. We are trying to resolve the situation. We do not want the provincial or upper (administration) to declare that Koh Samui is a disaster area.”
There are also fears that the island will face even more severe deficits in the coming months as a result of an El Niño event, which is associated with warmer conditions and less rainfall.
Jutharath, an employee of a massage center in Bow Foot, said that for the past three months, water comes in the taps only once or twice a week. To conserve supplies, he had to buy water from pick-up trucks and use a small pool. “There was a time when it was over, there was no water for a whole week. My neighbours, sometimes they had to go to the nearby temple to use the bathroom as there was no water,” he said. outlet, adding that it had never experienced such a shortage before,
“It’s really affected business,” she added.