Shrinking Pattaya Reservoirs

[forcebwithu]

Recent news reports are painting a dire picture for the area water supply over the coming months. I had a nice bike ride around Mabprachan this morning to check the situation out and take a few pics that can serve as a baseline of how bad the lake level gets as we head into the dry season. Currently nowhere near as bad as it was in Sept, 2015, but we may get there. At the end of this post is a link to pics from Sept, 2015.

Lake level looks ok in the view to the north

But the overflow outlet on this end of the lake shows just how low the lake level has gotten. The bottom of the darker portion of the concrete marks the normal high water mark.

In Sept, 2015 this side of the lake, the northwest end, was a mud hole (first pic the linked album at the end of this post). 

Maybe in a couple of months this guy can walk to his fishing camp.

View from the north end looking south.

Nong Prue Park is getting ready for Loy Krathong celebrations this evening.

In this pic you can see the land strip, normally underwater, that was used to hold back the water from the south end while they dug out the north end to increase capacity. I was on my skinny tired road bike today. On another day I'll take my mtn bike and see just how far out on the land strip I can ride.

The bike path around the lake is now complete. They really did an excellent job on this path as it's completely separate from SCC Rd. So you can ride the 9 km loop without worrying about getting sideswiped by passing traffic. One negative though is a short section across from the Wat on the northeast side has a barrier of barb wire along the path. Not good if you're admiring the lake view and stray off the path even just a little bit. IMHO, a length of rope would have sufficed instead of barbwire.

Some shots of rock outcroppings that are normally underwater.

Click on pic below to view pics from Sept, 2015.

Edited December 28, 2019 by forcebwithu

[tommy dee]

 a few years ago we went to a bbq out onthelake, as in the middle. people could walk across it too.  the other pattaya ressies are the same too.  bear in mind that mapbrachan is fed from river thru 100 kms of pipe, but those rivers are more or less dry too.  there will for sure be a drought next dry season, no chance of anything else.  

 

living close by our water comes from bore holes but that doesnt make it so much better as the water table is already low

[forcebwithu]

Nice day for a bike ride, so took my mtn bike out to Mabprachan reservoir to see if it was now low enough to ride across.

Entered the bike path around the reservoir on the SW end.

Compared to the pic from last month, the water level at the overflow outlet looks to be down another meter. Pic from today.

And from 10 Nov

Imagine the volume of water lost from the reservoir. The high water mark is the dark patch of concrete about 6m up from the water.

The new and quite a bit larger beach on the NW end.

Unfortunately my hope of being able to ride across the lake bottom was dashed when I encountered numerous channels that blocked me from my goal.

And no, I wasn't about to cheat by using this "bridge".

Still an island, but not for much longer.

Same view from 10 Nov

With another 5+ months to go before the next rainy season, there's a good chance this island will look like it did on 7 Sept 2015.

The birds don't see to be bothered by the low water level.

But this guy can no longer cast a line from his front porch.

Same view from 10 Nov

I'm now on the north end looking south when I noticed more and more of the birds taking flight.

I use to fly sailplanes for fun and I'm pretty sure what happened is my riding the mtn bike across the dry ground on the north end kicked loose a thermal. Use to see that quite a bit when I flew in Wisconsin. When I was getting low I'd look for a farmer plowing his field and it was almost a sure bet if I loitered around the area for a few minutes I would be rewarded with a thermal to gain back altitude in. Anyhoo, the birds probably saw a few of their friends having fun in the thermal and soon the whole extended family joined them.

 

They might have to soon rename the reservoir to Mabprachan Desert.

These guys standing around in the middle of the reservoir demonstrate it isn't that deep in parts.

This is another marker of how low the water level is.

Soon the outlet channel will be higher than the water and this part will turn into a stagnant pond.

[Jambo]

I have been predicting water rationing for Pattaya for several weeks now.

The rainy season was largely a non-event this year and it does not return again for the best part of 5 months.

Another concern will be wild fires breaking out. On my long drive back last Thursday I noticed several in the distance.

[tommy dee]

4 hours ago, Jambo said:

I have been predicting water rationing for Pattaya for several weeks now.

The rainy season was largely a non-event this year and it does not return again for the best part of 5 months.

Another concern will be wild fires breaking out. On my long drive back last Thursday I noticed several in the distance.

the lakeside was afire on sunday in many places, seeing the fire br4igade called out to it too

[forcebwithu]

9 hours ago, tommy dee said:

the lakeside was afire on sunday in many places, seeing the fire br4igade called out to it too

When I was riding the trails through the woods on the north side of the reservoir I came across a couple of still smoking, fresh burn areas. Since they were close to where Thais were camped out I assume they were purposely set.

[forcebwithu]

It's been two weeks and two days since the last update, so hopped on my bike and had a very enjoyable ride this morning around what remains of Mabprachan Reservoir.

Starting again on the southwest side.

More spots that were previously underwater are now exposed.

Wish they would mount a water level gage to this structure. I'm estimating the water is down another 1/2 meter or so since the last update.

I wonder how much longer it will be before this guy can walk to his fishing camp.

They're now having to pump water from the low spots.

Another couple of weeks and there will be no need for a bridge over this channel.

A babbling brook in the middle of what was once a lake.

The island is now a peninsula.

On the north end looking south.

Fishing is a lot easier when they fish are trapped in what remains of the water on the north end.

Mabprachan is fast becoming a lush meadow. Can't really call it "lush" as the dominant flora are thorn bushes.

A bit of a technical ride to get out to the far end of this exposed rock outcropping.

Had to ride over a lot of broken shells and gnarly rocks to get to the far end, but this was the view looking back.

And the view towards the dam at the west end of the reservoir.

Now back at the southwest side. I see they've closed off the channel into the pond within a lake and are now having to pump water into the pond.

At the rate the water level is dropping it doesn't bode well for the Pattaya area in the coming months. As the next rainy season is a long way off, I expect we'll see severe water rationing measures to conserve what little remains of the water supply.

[thegrogmonster]

Thanks for the update.

If you are out and about and in the area could you take some photos of the water level in Lake Chark Nok. We have 1 rai of land there.

[forcebwithu]

13 minutes ago, thegrogmonster said:

Thanks for the update.

If you are out and about and in the area could you take some photos of the water level in Lake Chark Nok. We have 1 rai of land there.

I had it in the back of my mind to do just that in the next couple of days. What side of the lake is your land? I'll make a point to get some pics of that area.

[thegrogmonster]

 

11 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

I had it in the back of my mind to do just that in the next couple of days. What side of the lake is your land? I'll make a point to get some pics of that area.

Thanks for that.

The land is on the southern end, We are the vacant land between the newly paved road on the lake and the Kombat Group.

Edited December 26, 2019 by thegrogmonster

[mrcharliemofo]

1 hour ago, forcebwithu said:

It's been two weeks and two days since the last update, so hopped on my bike and had a very enjoyable ride this morning around what remains of Mabprachan Reservoir.

Starting again on the southwest side.

More spots that were previously underwater are now exposed.

Wish they would mount a water level gage to this structure. I'm estimating the water is down another 1/2 meter or so since the last update.

I wonder how much longer it will be before this guy can walk to his fishing camp.

They're now having to pump water from the low spots.

Another couple of weeks and there will be no need for a bridge over this channel.

A babbling brook in the middle of what was once a lake.

The island is now a peninsula.

On the north end looking south.

Fishing is a lot easier when they fish are trapped in what remains of the water on the north end.

Mabprachan is fast becoming a lush meadow. Can't really call it "lush" as the dominant flora are thorn bushes.

A bit of a technical ride to get out to the far end of this exposed rock outcropping.

Had to ride over a lot of broken shells and gnarly rocks to get to the far end, but this was the view looking back.

And the view towards the dam at the west end of the reservoir.

Now back at the southwest side. I see they've closed off the channel into the pond within a lake and are now having to pump water into the pond.

At the rate the water level is dropping it doesn't bode well for the Pattaya area in the coming months. As the next rainy season is a long way off, I expect we'll see severe water rationing measures to conserve what little remains of the water supply.

And yet Songkran will still go ahead regardless of the situation with the lack of water. 

[Painter]

What happened to the pipework that was laid to bring water in from elsewhere?

Or am I imagining that?

[tommy dee]

1 hour ago, Painter said:

What happened to the pipework that was laid to bring water in from elsewhere?

Or am I imagining that?

it runs to various sources, all of which are dry too.  hence no flow.  same at chachensao.

[tommy dee]

and its years too late for desalination plants to be built.  which would at least cover showers and gardens and household stuff, obviously not cooking

[Freee!!]

6 hours ago, tommy dee said:

and its years too late for desalination plants to be built.  which would at least cover showers and gardens and household stuff, obviously not cooking

Proper desalination plants will deliver potable water, so will also cover cooking.

[CalEden]

There are barge desalination plants they use during disasters. Years ago when Kuai was hit by hurricane, the US Navy parked a nuclear submarine to provide desalinated water. Maybe couple of Navy ships could provide water to Pattaya.  

[karon steve]

I wonder why the authorities aren't taking the opportunity to deepen the reservoir?

Also I have heard that the smell of dead mussels etc. isn't very pleasant.

Edited December 26, 2019 by karon steve

[Chang_Paarp]

10 hours ago, tommy dee said:

and its years too late for desalination plants to be built.  which would at least cover showers and gardens and household stuff, obviously not cooking

Perth Western Australia gets most of its water supply from desal plants. 

I hate having to waste drinking water to keep the grass green(ish) but my lease requires it.

[JDM]

On 11/11/2019 at 3:10 PM, tommy dee said:

 a few years ago we went to a bbq out onthelake, as in the middle. people could walk across it too.  the other pattaya ressies are the same too.  bear in mind that mapbrachan is fed from river thru 100 kms of pipe, but those rivers are more or less dry too.  there will for sure be a drought next dry season, no chance of anything else.  

 

living close by our water comes from bore holes but that doesnt make it so much better as the water table is already low

I also have  a bore hole water supply its never failed to supply water however I am considering installing a large water tank as a backup.

I live in a house in Soi K9 Huay Yai and there is no government water line here.

JDM

[tommy dee]

19 hours ago, JDM said:

I also have  a bore hole water supply its never failed to supply water however I am considering installing a large water tank as a backup.

I live in a house in Soi K9 Huay Yai and there is no government water line here.

JDM

i just bought tanks yesterday  matey.  suggest u buy now.  our regualr builders yard was 3100 for a 1000 litre tank.. others are asking 4500 and i reckon they will b asking more soon.  as longas you have a pump all u need is a 300  banht HD ballcock, the rest is simple piping.  doin one tomorrow as a prototype

[forcebwithu]

Made it out to Huai Chak Nok Reservoir today. Water level is looking pretty dire there too. Here's the view from the dam end on the NW side.

Close up of the outflow structure to use as a benchmark for the water level.

A lot of what was once under water on the south end of the dam is now dry.

Here's a screenshot of the satellite view of the reservoir with a maker of where the above pic was taken. Image is from Nov, 2018 and gives an idea of how far the water has receded.

They have pumps going to move trapped water on the south end into what remains of the reservoir.

It's going to be quite a while before this overflow outlet will be needed again.

@thegrogmonster, is this your land? If so, somebody stole all your cassava.

And this is the view now from your "waterfront" property.

A bit of hike from this side of the reservoir to get to the water's edge.

The cows are enjoying their new pasture land.

The view from the north end looking south towards the dam in the far distance.

And on the other side of the road, looking north.

Easy pickings for the fishermen.

Side note: I've edited the topic title to reflect that posts here cover all the shrinking water sources for Pattaya.

[thegrogmonster]

13 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

@thegrogmonster, is this your land? If so, somebody stole all your cassava.

 

Thanks very much for taking the time to go out there and take some photos. I have never seen the water level that low here.

You were very close to our land just a couple of blocks to the east. Land shown by red star on this photo.

[john luke]

Could I please ask, what measures do the authorities normally take to address water shortages.  When was the last time these type of measures were necessary?

Thanks.

[tommy dee]

1 hour ago, john luke said:

Could I please ask, what measures do the authorities normally take to address water shortages.  When was the last time these type of measures were necessary?

Thanks.

5 or 6 yrs ago,  water pressure was reduced then water supplies altenrate days,  but this year is expected to be worst in memory.  so god knows.

[Stillearly]

1 hour ago, john luke said:

Could I please ask, what measures do the authorities normally take to address water shortages.  When was the last time these type of measures were necessary?

Thanks.

Wet wipes on Soi 6 😜