Mr.Supot JermsawatdipongDeputy Director General

Department of Groundwater Resources

APWF KnowledgeHub for Groundwater Management: Launch Meeting2 June 2011, Bangkok

Outline

Introduction Conceptual Framework of GW management

Previous works Current situation Future trend Summary

Introduction

Hydrologic cycle of Thailand Precipitation (732,795 MCM/yr.) Surface runoff (213,303 MCM/yr.) Surface storage (76,131 MCM/yr.) Evapotranspiration (416,863 MCM/yr.) Infiltration and percolation (102,809 MCM/yr.) Groundwater storage (1,131,959 MCM)

Rainfall 1,426 mm/yr

Precipitation Water732,975 Mm3/yr (100%)

Infiltration102,809 Mm3/yr

(14.03%)

Surface Runoff213,303 Mm3/yr

(29.10%)

Irrigation Area 60,480 km3

Surface Storage 76,131 Mm3

Rainfed area 152,000 km3

Hydrologic cycle of Thailand

Groundwater Recharge

102,809 Mm3/yr

Groundwater Storage1,131,959 Mm3

Evapotranspiration 416,863 Mm3/yr(56.87%)

Groundwater Basins in Thailand

27 basins

Table of Groundwater storage

No.

GW Region

GW basin

Area (km2)

Storage(million

m3)

Annual Recharge(million

m3)

11 NortherNorthernn 77 88,395.

4097,189.46 11,818.60

22 Upper Upper centralcentral 33 78,636.

80237,246.5

422,600.56

33 Lower Lower CentralCentral 33 82,887.

10297,834.0

4 26,713.30

44 NortheaNortheastern stern 33 167,05

4.00374,332.4

526,593.61

13 528

Conceptual framework of GW management

Ref. : Foster. 2008

Previous works

Groundwater exploration and mapping Groundwater development Groundwater database Land subsidence and groundwater monitoring networks

Groundwater usage control and legislation Groundwater Act 1977 A.D.

Groundwater exploration and mapping

Geological survey Aerial photo and satellite image interpretation 

Geophysical survey Hydrogeological mapping Groundwater mapping

Groundwater development

Borehole drilling Geophysical logging Casing programme Pumping test Pump installation Groundwater quality analysis Rural water supply

Rural water supply

Hand pump Rural village water supply

Small village (12 m3 water tower tank) Medium village (20 m3 water tower tank)

Groundwater database

Pasutara database Well location Depth Drilled log Geophysical log (SP, R, Gamma) Casing programme Static water level (SWL) Groundwater quality

Bangkok Land subsidence

First noticed in the 1960’s Since 1978: Max. subsidence= ~1.0 m observed 1979-1981: Reached 5-10 cm/yr in some areas Subsiding areas coincide with groundwater

depression zones Land subsidence still occurring (~1.0 cm/yr in

most parts) Surrounding areas at risk (Samut Prakan,

Pathumthani, Samut Sakhon)

Land subsidence and groundwater monitoring networks

Groundwater Act 1977 A.D.

Groundwater Act, B.E. 2520 (1977) and Amendments

Contains provisions for: Controlling the exploration and drilling for groundwater Use of groundwater Recharging of aquifers through wells Protection and conservation of groundwater resources

The amendments mainly involve such issues as: Groundwater operating licenses requirement for state agencies or

organizations that use groundwater in critical areas Identification of restricted and groundwater-pumping zones Groundwater-charging rates Penalties and fees for groundwater activities Advancement of knowledge for well drillers Setting up the Groundwater Development Fund for study and

research on conservation of groundwater resources and the environment

Groundwater Act: Salient Points

Definition of Groundwater

Occurring beneath the ground at depths exceeding depth(s) prescribed by the Minister, excluding those at a depth of less than 10 meters

Below 15 m in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region and Ayutthaya

Below 20 m in the North-Eastern Region

Below 30 m elsewhere

Establishment of the Groundwater Committee

Set regulations; make decisions together with the Minister

Designation of Groundwater Areas

Where groundwater use may be prohibited

Groundwater Charging Rates

Exemptions and discounts in areas with no water supply service

Groundwater Licenses

Groundwater Charge

1985: A groundwater fee of 1.00 Baht/m3 is applied (6 provinces)

1994: Groundwater charge increased to 3.50 Baht/m3 

(all provinces) 1997: Development of a 

groundwater charging method (Exemptions and discounts for areas w/o water supply)

2000‐2003: Gradual increase of groundwater fees to 8.50 Baht/m3

2004: Groundwater Preservation Charge (Critical Zones)  

7 Provinces* Other Provinces

February 3, 1985** 1

July 1, 1994 3.5 3.5

July 1- 31, 2000 3.5 3.5

August 1 - September 30, 2000 4 3.5

October 1 - December 31, 2000 4.5 3.5

January 1 - March 31, 2001 5 3.5

April 1 - June 30, 2001 5.5 3.5

July 1 - September 30, 2001 6 3.5

October 1 - December 31, 2001 6.5 3.5

January 1 - March 31, 2002 7 3.5

April 1 - June 30, 2002 7.5 3.5

July 1- September 30, 2002 7.75 3.5

October 1 - December 31, 2002 8 3.5

January 1 - March 31, 2003 8.25 3.5

April 1, 2003 - Present 8.5 3.5

** Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathumthani, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakarn and partially in Samut Sa

Groundwater Tariff (Baht/m3)Effectivity Period

* Bangkok Metropolis, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Pathom

Groundwater Preservation Charge

Imposed upon registered private users in the provinces of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Pathom starting 2004

Date/Month/Year Cost (Bt/m3)

1-30 September 2004 1.00

1 October – 31 December 2004 2.00

1 January – 31 March 2005 3.00

1 April – 30 June 2005 4.00

1 July – 30 September 2005 5.00

1 October – 31 December 2005 6.00

1 January – 31 March 2006 7.00

1 April – 30 June 2006 8.00

Beyond 1 July 2006 8.50

Current situation

Thai government agency reform of October 3rd, 2002.

Establish the Department of Groundwater Resources

New structure of groundwater works Research and development Bureaus 12 Regional offices Law and legistlation

Structure of DGR

Project components

Groundwater Resources Evaluation Hydrogeological survey and Groundwater mapping Airborne geophysical survey Carbonate aquifer exploration and assessment Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Manage Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Riverbank Filtration (RBF) Underground Dam Assessment of Conjunctive Use for Irrigation

Project components

Groundwater development Drinking water supply for school children Wellhead protection (flooding mitigation) Abandoned groundwater wells backfilled Groundwater for agriculture supply Knowledge transferring to local government 

Project components

Groundwater Strategic Planning Political & Public Awareness of Functions Groundwater Management Master Plan Groundwater Utilization & Valuation Technical & Economic Appraisal of Impact Mitigation

Project components

Groundwater Abstraction Use & Regulation Legal Modification to Abstraction Licensing Stakeholder Engagements & Participation Evaluation of License Charging, Trading & Policing

Project components

Groundwater Quality Assessment & Protection Production of Land‐Surface Zoning Maps Groundwater Pollution of Hazard Assessment Promotion of Groundwater Well Protection Zones

Groundwater Quality Monitoring Networks 

Project components

Groundwater database & Information Provision

Updating & Linkage of Groundwater Databases

Development of GIS for Information Provision

Promotion of National Groundwater Data Centre

Future trend

Research and Development (R&D) Strengthening  capacity in groundwater resources management to local government 

Law enforcements

Summary

Past – groundwater exploration and development for rural water supply

Present – research and development (R&D) and knowledge transferring to local government

Future ‐ research and development (R&D), strengthening  capacity in groundwater resources management to local government and Law enforcements

Thank you