KOH SAMUI, Thailand — Residents on the Thai island of Koh Samui are collecting and storing water as authorities enforce rotating supplies following a sharp decline in available water during a prolonged dry spell, with officials warning that production has fallen far below daily demand.
The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) said clean-water production on the island had dropped to about 40% of normal capacity as raw-water reserves declined. An underwater pipeline from mainland Surat Thani supplies about 16,000 cubic metres a day, while average demand is about 34,000 cubic metres, according to the PWA.
Under the rationing system introduced this week, water supplies are rotated between areas of the island, with residents and businesses urged to store water when it is available and prepare for temporary interruptions. Local reports have described households collecting water in containers as supplies become intermittent.
The shortage has also affected businesses during Koh Samui's busy tourism season. Hotels and larger establishments have increasingly turned to water delivered by tanker trucks to supplement limited piped supplies, according to reports. The island has about 70,000 permanent residents, while the number of visitors and seasonal workers rises substantially during peak periods.
The PWA has attributed the immediate shortage to the prolonged dry period and weather conditions associated with El Niño, which have reduced the availability of raw water. The island's reservoirs have fallen to critically low levels, while existing infrastructure has struggled to meet demand.
Thailand's Interior Ministry has ordered emergency measures, including efforts to increase the volume of water transported through the undersea pipeline by about 4,000 cubic metres a day. Authorities are also working to repair a damaged reverse-osmosis desalination system and manage remaining raw-water supplies to maximize production, officials said.
Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth instructed the PWA to provide daily progress reports, prepare contingency measures if the shortage persists and keep residents informed of supply schedules. The ministry has also coordinated with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation over possible artificial-rain operations when weather conditions permit.
The current crisis follows recurring water shortages on Koh Samui in recent years, as population growth and tourism have increased demand while water infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. Authorities are now also being asked to develop longer-term plans covering additional water sources, production capacity and distribution infrastructure.
