Chiang Mai’s water reservoirs, large and small alike, still have considerable capacity to absorb further rainfall, according to the Chiang Mai Irrigation Project Office, with Mae Ngat and Mae Kuang dams both reporting healthy storage levels and substantial room to spare.
Kuakul Manasampansakul, Director of the Chiang Mai Irrigation Project, briefed the situation on the 31st of July, covering both rainfall and water levels across the province.
On rainfall, the heaviest accumulation over the previous day fell in Sansai subdistrict, Phrao district, at 87.5mm, followed by Ping Khong subdistrict in Chiang Dao district at 78.5mm, and Pa Tum subdistrict, also in Phrao district, at 77.5mm.
As for the reservoirs, the two large dams remain well within safe operating range. Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam is holding around 195 million cubic metres, or 74 percent of capacity, with room for a further 98 million cubic metres should heavier rain arrive. Mae Kuang Udom Thara Dam is holding roughly 169 million cubic metres, 64 percent of capacity, with 88 million cubic metres of space still available.
Chiang Mai’s 13 medium-sized reservoirs are collectively holding about 73 million cubic metres, 71 percent of combined capacity, and are being released on schedule at a rate of roughly 6.655 million cubic metres per day to free up additional space ahead of further rainfall. The 116 small reservoirs across the province are holding around 44 million cubic metres, or 65 percent of capacity, also within normal range.
Water levels in the Ping River basin, including the Mae Taeng and Mae Rim tributaries that feed into Chiang Mai city, remain normal at under 30 percent of channel capacity. In the Fang River basin, monitoring station G.12 at Ban Mai Rim Fang in Fang district recorded water at around 60 percent of capacity, still 86cm below the bank. Station G.13 at Ban Mae Kha, also in Fang district, showed 48 percent capacity, 118cm below the bank, while station G.14 in Mae Ai district recorded just 17 percent capacity, 2.72m below the bank.
