Thalang turns on the waterworks

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Office is spending 40 million baht on extending local government water mains from Baan Pon, just south of Thalang Town, to Baan Mak Prok School, located near the eastern end of the runway at Phuket Airport.

The project will allow local communities in the north of Phuket to start hooking up their local water networks to the mains and use government water supply in their homes in Srisoonthorn, Thepkrasattri and Mai Khao subdistricts.

Connecting with the local water mains network from Ban Jo water treatment plant – which treats water from Bang Neaw Dun reservoir, Phuket’s second largest water source – the new pipes will be laid alongside the southbound lane of Thepkrasattri Road from the 16km road marker to the 30km marker.

Pornthep Bunyapaluek, an engineer at Phuket office of the Royal Irrigation Project, said the project is aimed at resolving recurring water shortages suffered by residents in the north.

Once this extension is complete, his office will look into extending the water mains further north to Phuket International Conference and Exhibition Center (ICEC) and the Phuket International Airport expansion areas in the future, said Mr Pornthep.

The budget, approved but not yet arrived, is expected in February, said Mr Pornthep.

However, once the funding has been transferred, the work is expected to take only 90 days to complete, said Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority Manager Pisak Chonlayutsaid.

“This project is not under public tender, so the Provincial Waterworks Authority will do work themselves,” he said.

“People living in the areas affected by the expansion will be served clear tap water, not water for agriculture, by next June,” he said.

Bang Jo water treatment facility currently produces 12,000 cubic meters of tap water a day, serving Kamala, Cherng Talay, Srisoonthorn, some parts of Pa Khlok and some parts of Rassada, said Mr Pisak.

Although the facilities at Phuket’s primary water reserve at Bang Wad can produce 43,000 cubic meters of tap water a day – serving Phuket Town, Chalong, Rawai, Kata, Karon, Kathu and Patong – plans are afoot to upgrade the water treatment facilities at Bang Jo.

“As a long-term solution to Phuket’s water shortages, the Phuket Waterworks Authority plan to eventually set up water treatment facilities at the future Klong Krata reservoir in Chalong,” Mr Pisak added.

“In fiscal year 2013, we want to boost to water treatment at Bang Jo by 7,200 cubic meters a day. We also want a facility to be installed at the Klong Kata reservoir that can treat up to 12,000 cubic meters of water day,” Mr Pisak said.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan