Planners reveal £1bn pipeline to secure water for booming tourism
A 300km pipeline is about to change the face of southern Thailand. Fresh water could soon flow to Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga. The ambitious plan was revealed this week to governor Sophon Suwannarat.
Officials hope the project will stamp out chronic shortages. Every peak season, these provinces run dry. Reservoirs struggle, tourists still flock – and pipes threaten to run empty.
How will this work? Engineers explain plan to governor
The Provincial Waterworks Authority, led by Somchai, 49, an engineer, and Team Consulting laid out the scheme last Friday. Water will come straight from the Khlong Phum Duang. A new weir and reservoir are on the cards.
Officials will send the raw water to Ton Yuan Subdistrict Waterworks Plant in Phanom, Surat Thani. There, the precious resource gets treated. Then it travels along highways, pumped through 300km of pipe. It’s a lifeline stretching across Phang Nga, all the way to Phuket and Krabi.
Six local branches are set to benefit: Ban Ta Khun, Phang Nga, Thai Mueang, Ao Luek, Krabi and Phuket.
Why southern Thailand needs a change
Tourism is booming on the Andaman Coast. But water supplies can’t keep up. In peak season, reservoirs run dry and lorries deliver water to hotels at sky-high prices.
The new pipeline would connect to the Ratchaprapha Dam, providing a steady flow all year. Locals and investors both crave secure supplies. ‘This project is vital for our region’s progress,’ said Governor Sophon, 58, a civil servant.
But he added a warning. Environmental and community concerns must not be ignored. He urged planners to fast-track their impact studies.
Who pays for this mega-project?
The latest study focuses on costs and funding. Planners hope a public-private partnership, or PPP, will pay the bill.
This could ease the strain on government budgets. And private firms could bring their expertise.
‘We’re working with all stakeholders,’ said Niran, 42, a project advisor. Authorities plan to send their findings to the Cabinet and ministries soon. If approved, this would be South Thailand’s biggest infrastructure leap in decades.
What’s the risk if nothing changes?
Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi all see rising demand. Visitors surge, new hotels appear, and the local population grows.
So far, lorry water deliveries offer only a patchy fix. They’re costly and unsustainable. The pipeline would lock in safe drinking water and fuel the region’s economy. Investors often avoid areas with unstable supplies – this new flow could help bring billions.
Environmental worries and next steps
Still, critics want answers about a 300km pipeline cutting through nature. The PWA promises more updates after the Cabinet reviews the financing. Supporters say the region’s economic future is on the line.
If it goes ahead, this project would change Andaman’s destiny – and perhaps set a new model for Thailand’s tourist hotspots.
Should the coast risk billions on one mega pipe?
Should Phuket spend billions on a 300km pipeline, or back smaller, greener ideas like desalination and rainwater harvesting instead? Have your say.