Pranburi Dam 22% Full; Drought Plan Adjustment for 2026

MGR Online•Society•8d ago

Reader Briefing

Pranburi Dam's water level plummets to 22% in 2026, prompting Irrigation Department 14 to reduce agricultural water supply and prioritize drinking water.

•Pranburi Dam's water reserves have fallen to a critical 22.75% capacity in 2026.
•The Provincial Irrigation Office 14 is adjusting its water management plan to reduce agricultural supply from May to August.
•Priority will be given to water for consumption, followed by ecological system maintenance and essential uses.
•Rainfall is predicted to be below average, with a risk of El Niño delaying and reducing rainfall.

Overview

•As of May 1, 2026, Pranburi Dam has only 68.97 million cubic meters of water remaining, which is 22.75% of its 391 million cubic meter capacity, due to the reduced water volume compared to the previous year.
•Water inflow into the dam from January to the current date is only 3.94 million cubic meters, significantly below the average of approximately 30.33 million cubic meters.
•Meteorological data predicts lower-than-normal rainfall this year, with potential for a dry spell and elongated rain deficit, compounded by El Niño's influence potentially delaying and reducing rainfall.
•Provincial Irrigation Office 14 is adjusting its water supply plan for the agricultural sector between May and August 2026, reducing the amount from the original plan.
•The adjusted plan is expected to result in approximately 69.05 million cubic meters of water remaining, with an estimated 103.34 million cubic meters (26% capacity) by the end of 2026.
•The management of water resources will prioritize public consumption, ecological system maintenance, and essential water usage, following the Water Resource Act B.E. 2018.
•Relevant agencies are preparing personnel, water pumps, and water trucks to assist at-risk areas and are closely monitoring the situation.
•The public and farmers are urged to use water economically, reduce non-essential activities, check for leaks, and follow official government information to mitigate the impact of the drought crisis.

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Key Quotes

Noraseth Songthong

"The water situation at Pranburi Dam in 2026 is concerning after the source water volume dropped significantly compared to last year. We are accelerating the adjustment of water management plans, reducing water supply to the agricultural sector from May-August, prioritizing reserves for consumption first."

สถานการณ์น้ำอ่างเก็บน้ำปราณบุรีปี 2026 น่าเป็นห่วง หลังปริมาณน้ำต้นทุนลดฮวบเมื่อเทียบปีก่อน เร่งปรับแผนบริหารจัดการน้ำ ลดส่งน้ำภาคเกษตรช่วง พ.ค.–ส.ค. เน้นสำรองน้ำอุปโภคบริโภคเป็นอันดับแรก

Key Entities

Organization

Provincial Irrigation Office 14(สำนักงานชลประทานที่ 14)

The organization managing water resources for Pranburi Dam and responsible for drought mitigation.

Place

Pranburi Dam(อ่างเก็บน้ำปราณบุรี)

A reservoir facing a critical water shortage in 2026, with only 22% capacity remaining.

Person

Noraseth Songthong(นายนรเศรษฐ สองทอง)

Director of Provincial Irrigation Office 14, who announced the critical water situation and adjusted drought plan.

Law

Water Resource Act B.E. 2018(พระราชบัญญัติทรัพยากรน้ำ พ.ศ. 2018)

The legal framework guiding water resource management and prioritization during the current crisis.

Timeline

May–August(พ.ค.–ส.ค.)

The period during which the agricultural water supply will be reduced.