Ubolratana Dam discharging water

Ubolratana Dam in Khon Kaen province. (Photo: Chakrapan Natanri)
Ubolratana Dam in Khon Kaen province. (Photo: Chakrapan Natanri)

KHON KAEN: More water is being released from Ubolratana Dam as runoff through continuous heavy rain continues to flow to the already half-full tank.

Sompong Chamkamol, the water administration and maintenance director of the Regional Water sources Office 6, said a water resources panel decided on Monday that more water needed to be discharged to maintain the    level under the dam’s maximum capacity.

On Monday early morning, the water level in the dam was 177. 92 metres above mean sea degree. The dam had been holding 1, 156  million cubic metres, or 47. 56% of its capacity associated with 2, 431 mil cubic metres. An overall total of 45. nineteen million cubic metres of water flowed into the dam tank on Sunday.

The section decided to release drinking water at the rate of 15 million cu metres per day on Aug 22-23, 18 million cubic metre distances on Aug 24, and 21 mil cubic metres on Aug 25.   The rate of discharge would be adjusted since needed after that, although not exceed 25 million cubic metres each day.

Upon Monday morning, pumps at six sluice gates on the Huay Phra and Nam Phong streams had been running at full capacity to release water from the channels into the Chi water, so the streams could take more drinking water from Ubolratana Dam.

Mister Sompong said people living along the avenues would be warned associated with possible flooding within the next few days.

He said the particular Chi river experienced begun to overflow in low-lying locations in Maha Sarakham province, but in Khon Kaen the water has been still 1-2 metres below the spilling point.

Areas to be carefully monitored for achievable flooding include Chumphae district of Khon Kaen and Phu Khieo district associated with Chaiyaphum, while one, 000-2, 000 rai in Selaphum district of Roi-et as already flooded, he said.