As a major economy in Southeast Asia, Thailand’s unique geographical location and climate characteristics pose significant challenges to water resource management. The topographical differences between the northern mountains and central plains cause uneven distribution of water resources. The distinct wet and dry seasons lead to temporal and spatial imbalances in water resource distribution. Combined with increased water pressure from accelerating urbanization, enterprises face multiple challenges in water resource management. Particularly under global climate change, the complexity of Thailand’s water resource management has further increased, with frequent extreme weather events bringing greater uncertainties to enterprise operations.

In recent years, as Chinese enterprises accelerate their overseas expansion, more companies are choosing to invest and establish factories in Thailand. For these enterprises to achieve long-term stable development in the Thai market, they must thoroughly understand local water resource characteristics and establish scientific water resource management systems. Based on Thailand’s hydrological and climatic characteristics, this article systematically analyzes water resource conditions, regional differences, management strategies, disaster prevention and control, and regulatory policies for different regions and types of enterprises, aiming to provide practical water resource management recommendations for Chinese enterprises.

I. Analysis of Thailand’s Current Water Resource Situation

1.1 Water Resource Distribution Characteristics

Thailand has abundant total water resources, but their spatial and temporal distribution is extremely uneven. The national average annual precipitation ranges from 1,200-3,000 millimeters, with the northern mountains and southern peninsula receiving the most rainfall, while the central plains and northeastern regions receive relatively less. The Chao Phraya River Basin is Thailand’s most important water supply area, accounting for nearly 70% of the country’s water demand.

In terms of surface water distribution, Thailand has 25 major river basins, with the Chao Phraya River, Mekong River, and Mae Klong River being the three main water systems. Although these rivers have considerable annual runoff, they are significantly affected by seasonality. During the rainy season, river water levels are abundant, often causing floods; during the dry season, some river sections face the risk of interruption.

Groundwater resources are mainly distributed in the central plains and northeastern regions, but due to over-extraction, some areas have experienced land subsidence and seawater intrusion. Groundwater levels in Bangkok and surrounding industrial areas continue to decline, affecting regional geological safety.

1.2 Causes of Seasonal Drought

Thailand’s seasonal droughts are mainly influenced by monsoon climate. The dry season occurs from November to April of the following year, with significantly reduced precipitation. Particularly in the northeastern and central regions, dry season rainfall can be less than 10% of annual precipitation. Climate change has intensified the frequency and strength of droughts, with recent trends showing extended dry season durations.

Topographical factors are also important causes of regional drought. Although the central plains have relatively abundant total water resources, insufficient water infrastructure leads to limited water resource allocation capabilities. During the dry season, increased irrigation demands coupled with insufficient water supply cause agricultural production losses. Meanwhile, accelerating urbanization brings increased water demand, further exacerbating water resource supply-demand conflicts.

Changes in land use patterns also affect drought occurrence. Deforestation leads to decreased water conservation capacity, and coupled with increasingly serious soil erosion problems, dry season water retention capacity continues to weaken. In some areas, excessive land development has accelerated surface runoff, making it unfavorable for water storage and utilization.

1.3 Flood Disaster Patterns

Thailand’s flood disasters mainly occur during the rainy season from May to October, when frequent heavy rains cause rapid river level rises. The Chao Phraya River Basin, with its large upstream catchment area and flat middle and downstream terrain, is prone to large-scale water accumulation. The massive flood in 2011 caused serious economic losses and affected normal production in many industrial parks.

Flood disasters show distinct regional characteristics. The northern mountainous areas frequently experience flash floods, characterized by sudden onset and high destructive power. The central plains are prone to large-scale waterlogging with long duration and wide impact range. The southern coastal areas face storm surge threats during typhoon season, posing huge risks to coastal industrial zones.

Accelerating urbanization has also intensified flood impacts. Increased impermeable surface area reduces ground infiltration capacity. Drainage system construction lags behind urban development speed, often resulting in poor drainage during heavy rainfall periods. Particularly in major cities like Bangkok, land subsidence problems further aggravate waterlogging risks.

1.4 Water Quality Pollution Status

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have brought enormous pressure on Thailand’s water environment. Untreated industrial wastewater and domestic sewage are still being directly discharged, leading to continued deterioration of water quality in some river sections. In industrial concentrated areas, heavy metal pollution and organic pollution problems are prominent.

Agricultural non-point source pollution is also a major cause of water quality decline. Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides leads to surface water eutrophication, affecting downstream water safety. Improper treatment of livestock and poultry wastewater causes severe local water pollution. These pollutants enter rivers through surface runoff, with continuously expanding impact areas.

Groundwater pollution issues cannot be ignored. In some industrial zones, historical soil pollution gradually affects groundwater quality. Excessive groundwater extraction in coastal areas leads to seawater intrusion, causing groundwater salinization. These issues pose potential threats to enterprise water safety.

II. Regional Water Resource Management Differences

2.1 Northern Mountainous Region Water Resource Characteristics and Management Focus

Thailand’s northern mountainous region has complex terrain, abundant annual precipitation, and is the source of several major rivers. Water resource management in this region faces unique challenges. Due to large elevation differences, the rainy season is prone to flash floods and mudslides, threatening enterprise production and infrastructure safety. The region has rich hydropower resources and has built several large water conservancy hub projects, but the issue of uneven temporal and spatial distribution of water resources remains prominent.

Given the northern mountainous region’s characteristics, enterprises need to particularly focus on soil and water conservation. Industrial project site selection should avoid areas prone to geological disasters and river flood impact zones to ensure production facility safety. Meanwhile, enterprises need to establish comprehensive rainy season drainage systems and strengthen slope reinforcement and flood control facilities. Regarding industrial water use, enterprises are advised to fully utilize surface water resources during abundant water periods and reduce groundwater extraction.

Water source protection is particularly important in the northern mountainous region. The area has high forest coverage and is an important water conservation zone. Enterprises must strictly control pollutant discharge during production, adopt clean production processes, and avoid polluting water sources. Meanwhile, enterprises should actively participate in local water source protection work and fulfill social responsibilities.

2.2 Central Plains Water Resource Characteristics and Management Focus

The central plains are Thailand’s political and economic center and an important agricultural area. This region faces prominent water resource supply-demand conflicts, dealing with both rainy season flood threats and dry season water shortages. The region has a dense river network, but aging water infrastructure leads to insufficient regulation and storage capacity. Groundwater over-extraction has led to increasingly serious land subsidence problems, especially in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

In this region, enterprise water resource management focuses on establishing diversified water supply security systems. Industrial enterprises should fully utilize surface water resources, rationally plan water storage facilities, and ensure dry season water demand. For enterprises with high water consumption, it is recommended to build supporting water recycling systems to improve water resource recycling efficiency. Meanwhile, enterprises need to guard against flood disasters and improve drainage system construction.

Agricultural enterprises in the central plains should pay special attention to irrigation water management. They should promote water-saving irrigation technologies, scientifically arrange crop planting structures, and avoid planting water-intensive crops during the dry season. It is recommended to build rainwater collection systems to improve rainwater resource utilization efficiency. Meanwhile, pesticide and fertilizer use should be controlled to reduce non-point source pollution.

2.3 Eastern Industrial Zone Water Resource Characteristics and Management Focus

The eastern industrial zone is Thailand’s important manufacturing base, with high industrial water demand and water quality requirements. The region has moderate precipitation but significant seasonal variations. Coastal areas face seawater intrusion threats, and groundwater extraction in some industrial zones is already under strict control. Additionally, industrial pollution’s impact on the water environment is increasingly prominent.

Industrial enterprises in this region should focus on solving water safety issues. Enterprises are advised to establish comprehensive water quality monitoring systems, regularly conduct water quality testing, and ensure production water meets standards. For high water-consuming enterprises, priority should be given to using municipal water supply or reclaimed water to reduce groundwater extraction. Meanwhile, wastewater treatment facility operation management should be strengthened to ensure standard discharge.

Enterprises in the eastern industrial zone also need to pay attention to water supply risk management. Enterprises are advised to maintain close communication with local water authorities to understand water resource management policy changes. They should appropriately increase emergency water storage capacity, establish backup water sources, and prevent sudden water shortage risks. Meanwhile, enterprises can establish water allocation mechanisms to achieve optimal regional water resource allocation.

2.4 Southern Coastal Region Water Resource Characteristics and Management Focus

The southern coastal region has abundant precipitation but is significantly affected by monsoons, with uneven temporal and spatial distribution. The region has developed tourism, with high service industry water demand. Coastal areas also face natural disaster threats such as typhoons and storm surges. Additionally, marine aquaculture development brings pressure on the water environment.

Given southern region characteristics, enterprises need to establish comprehensive typhoon and flood control systems. Tourism service enterprises should particularly focus on ensuring rainy season safety measures and establish tourist evacuation plans. Coastal industrial enterprises should strengthen anti-corrosion facilities to protect production equipment from seawater corrosion. Meanwhile, enterprises need to establish comprehensive sewage treatment systems to protect the marine ecological environment.

Water quality management is another issue southern region enterprises need to focus on. Peak tourism season brings surging water demand, easily causing water supply pressure. Enterprises are advised to adopt water-saving equipment and strengthen water management. For aquaculture enterprises, feed input should be strictly controlled, and aquaculture wastewater properly treated to avoid nearshore water pollution.

III. Enterprise Water Resource Management Strategies

3.1 Industrial Enterprise Water Management

Industrial enterprises are one of the main water resource consumers in Thailand, and their water management directly relates to production efficiency and environmental responsibility fulfillment. In Thailand, industrial enterprise water management must follow strict standards and specifications. First, enterprises must establish comprehensive water metering systems to accurately track and analyze water usage in various production stages, identify low-efficiency areas, and implement targeted improvement measures.

Regarding production processes, enterprises should prioritize water-saving equipment and technologies, and implement water conservation technical reforms on existing production lines. For example, adopting closed-loop cooling processes in cooling systems and using high-pressure, low-flow cleaning equipment in washing processes can significantly reduce water consumption. Meanwhile, enterprises should focus on cascaded water resource utilization, arranging processes with high quality requirements upstream and those with lower quality requirements downstream to improve water resource utilization efficiency.

Wastewater treatment and reuse are important aspects of industrial enterprise water resource management. Enterprises should build appropriately sized treatment facilities based on wastewater characteristics to ensure discharge meets standards. Treated reclaimed water can be used for non-production purposes such as landscaping, toilet flushing, and road cleaning. Capable enterprises can also reuse treated water in production to form a water resource recycling system.

3.2 Agricultural Enterprise Water Management

Agriculture is Thailand’s traditional pillar industry and a major water user. Agricultural enterprise water resource management must particularly consider local conditions, developing scientific irrigation plans based on local climate characteristics and crop water requirements. When designing irrigation systems, terrain conditions and soil characteristics must be fully considered to select appropriate irrigation methods. Hilly areas can adopt sprinkler or drip irrigation systems, while plain areas can use border or channel irrigation methods.

Water source project construction is fundamental to agricultural water management. Enterprises must rationally plan water storage pool capacity and water intake facility scale based on irrigation area and crop water requirements. During the rainy season, attention must be paid to flood safety of storage pools, taking necessary overflow measures. During the dry season, water extraction must be controlled to avoid groundwater over-exploitation. Agricultural enterprises must also regularly inspect and maintain irrigation facilities, promptly repair leaks, and reduce water transport losses.

Agricultural non-point source pollution control is also an important aspect of water resource management. Enterprises must scientifically use pesticides and fertilizers, promote soil testing and formula fertilization technology, and reduce nutrient loss. In aquaculture, breeding density and feed input must be controlled, pond water quality management strengthened, and regular water quality testing and improvement conducted. Additionally, enterprises must maintain farmland drainage systems to ensure smooth drainage during heavy rains and avoid farmland waterlogging.

3.3 Service Industry Enterprise Water Management

Although service industry enterprises have relatively small individual water consumption, their large numbers make their water management equally important. Hotels, restaurants, and other industries must focus on domestic water management, installing water-saving devices in guest rooms and bathrooms, regularly inspecting and maintaining water supply networks to prevent leakage. Restaurant enterprises must also control washing water consumption, adopt water-saving washing equipment, and only discharge wastewater after grease separation treatment.

For special service industries like car washing and laundry, professional water-saving equipment must be used to control single-use water consumption. These enterprises’ wastewater often contains oil and detergents and must be pretreated before discharge. Enterprises are advised to build water recycling systems to use treated wastewater for floor cleaning or landscape irrigation to improve water resource utilization efficiency.

Large service facilities like shopping malls and office buildings must establish comprehensive water management systems. Dedicated management personnel should be appointed to handle daily water monitoring and equipment maintenance. Before the dry season, water storage facilities should be inspected to ensure emergency water supply. Additionally, employee water conservation awareness should be strengthened, with water-saving reminders posted in prominent locations to guide customers and employees in developing water-saving habits.

3.4 Construction Industry Water Management

Construction industry water management must span the entire construction process. During construction preparation, water demand must be scientifically predicted and temporary water supply facilities rationally arranged. Construction sites should set up dedicated water storage pools to collect rainwater for dust suppression and concrete curing. For high-rise buildings, construction water use zones should be rationally set to avoid construction delays due to insufficient water pressure.

Concrete mixing and curing are major construction water use stages. Enterprises must rationally arrange concrete pouring times based on construction progress, avoiding hot and dry weather when possible. Curing water should use spray systems to ensure curing effects while saving water. For large-volume concrete components, automatic sprinkler systems can be used for curing to improve water use efficiency.

Construction waste and slurry treatment must also consider water resource protection. Construction sites must set up sedimentation pools to collect and treat construction wastewater. Slurry water after sedimentation can be reused in construction to reduce new water consumption. Additionally, during foundation construction, effective measures must be taken to prevent groundwater pollution, installing cutoff walls or using water-stop grouting technology when necessary.

IV. Seasonal Disaster Prevention and Control Measures

4.1 Water Resource Reserve Plan for Drought Period

Thailand’s drought period mainly concentrates from November to April of the following year, during which precipitation significantly decreases. Enterprises need to prepare water resource reserves in advance. Regarding storage facilities, enterprises should construct water storage pools of appropriate capacity based on their water consumption scale. Underground or semi-underground structures can be adopted to reduce water evaporation loss. The design of storage pools should fully consider anti-seepage requirements, using concrete structures combined with anti-seepage membranes to ensure water storage safety.

Water source diversification is a crucial strategy for drought response. Besides conventional surface water sources, enterprises can develop groundwater sources as backup. However, groundwater development must strictly comply with local regulations to avoid over-extraction. Meanwhile, enterprises should emphasize rainwater collection and utilization, establishing comprehensive rainwater collection systems within factory areas, and using collected rainwater for secondary purposes such as landscaping and cleaning after simple treatment.

Regarding water scheduling, enterprises should establish a graded response mechanism for drought periods. As drought severity increases, corresponding water conservation measures should be gradually implemented. This can include adjusting production plans to arrange high water-consuming processes during the rainy season and focusing on low water-consuming processes during drought periods. For essential production activities, process optimization should maximize water resource utilization efficiency.

4.2 Flood Response Strategies for Rainy Season

Thailand’s rainy season typically lasts about five months, with heavy rainfall easily causing factory area waterlogging and equipment damage. Enterprises must establish comprehensive drainage systems, including rainwater pipe networks, storage pools, and pumping stations. The drainage system design must fully consider local rainfall intensity and topographical characteristics to ensure normal operation under extreme weather conditions.

Regular maintenance of drainage facilities is equally important. Before the rainy season, comprehensive inspection of drainage networks, clearing of sediments, and repair of damaged sections should be conducted. For low-lying areas, anti-backflow facilities should be added to prevent external flood backflow. Enterprises should also regularly inspect and maintain drainage pump stations to ensure equipment remains in good condition.

Flood control material reserves are necessary measures for the rainy season. Enterprises should store sufficient flood control sandbags, emergency water pumps, and generators. Meanwhile, flood control and emergency response teams should be established, with regular training and drills to improve emergency response capabilities. Important equipment and materials should be waterproofed, with flood walls or water gates installed when necessary.

4.3 Water Quality Safety Assurance System

Water quality safety is fundamental to enterprise production and operation. Enterprises should establish comprehensive water quality monitoring systems with necessary testing equipment and personnel. For production water, quality standards should be determined according to process requirements, with regular water quality testing. Testing should cover multiple aspects including physical, chemical, and microbiological indicators.

Operation management of water purification treatment facilities should be strictly regulated. Based on raw water quality conditions, appropriate treatment processes should be selected, including conventional methods such as coagulation sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, with advanced treatment units added when necessary. Operation parameters of treatment facilities should be strictly controlled, with regular equipment maintenance and updates to ensure treatment effectiveness.

Water quality safety early warning mechanisms are also crucial components of the assurance system. Enterprises should establish emergency response plans for water quality anomalies, immediately initiating emergency response procedures upon detection of substandard water quality. Meanwhile, maintaining close contact with local water authorities is essential to stay informed about water source quality changes and implement preventive treatment measures.

4.4 Emergency Response Plan Development

Emergency response plans serve as action guidelines for enterprises dealing with sudden water resource incidents. Plan compilation should follow practical principles, clearly defining responsibility allocation and handling procedures. Plan content should cover emergency organization structure, warning information dissemination, emergency response measures, material allocation, and post-incident recovery.

Emergency plan training and drills should be conducted regularly. Enterprises should organize regular staff learning sessions on plan content, ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities. Drills can combine tabletop exercises and practical drills to test plan operability and identify issues for timely revision.

Information reporting mechanisms are crucial for plan execution. Enterprises should establish internal and external communication channels, including contact methods with government departments, upstream and downstream enterprises, community residents, and other stakeholders. During emergencies, timely situation reports should be made to relevant parties to seek support and assistance. Meanwhile, public opinion management should be conducted, with authoritative information actively released to prevent rumor spread.

V. Water Resource Management Policy Interpretation

5.1 Water Extraction Permit System

Thailand implements a strict permit management system for water resource development and utilization. Before factory investment, enterprises must first understand local water extraction permit application conditions and procedures. According to Thailand’s Water Resource Law, enterprises exceeding specified water extraction standards must apply to local water authorities, obtaining approval before extraction. Application materials should truthfully report water usage scale, purpose, extraction methods, and provide corresponding technical demonstration reports.

During water extraction permit approval, water authorities focus on examining enterprise water use rationality and conservation measures. Enterprises should detail production process water usage stages in application materials, provide water balance diagrams, and prove water volume calculation scientific validity. Meanwhile, planned water conservation measures should be explained, including specific plans for process improvement, water recycling, and wastewater treatment reuse. After approval, enterprises must strictly follow permitted extraction methods, volumes, and metering requirements for production activities.

Water extraction permits have specific validity periods requiring renewal upon expiration. During the validity period, if enterprise water usage significantly changes, such as production scale expansion or water usage process changes, timely reports to water authorities are required for modification procedures. Additionally, enterprises should maintain water extraction records, truthfully record extraction volumes, regularly submit water usage data to water authorities, and accept supervision and inspection.

5.2 Pollution Control Requirements

Thailand implements strict control measures for industrial wastewater discharge. Enterprises must construct wastewater treatment facilities, ensuring wastewater meets standards before discharge. Wastewater treatment facility design must fully consider wastewater characteristics and discharge standard requirements, selecting appropriate treatment processes. After facility construction, environmental protection acceptance should be promptly applied for, with facilities entering operation only after passing acceptance.

Wastewater treatment facility operation management requires sound regulatory systems. Professional operation management personnel should be equipped, operating procedures established, ensuring facility stable operation. Regular influent and effluent water quality testing should be conducted, with prompt measures taken upon anomaly detection. Important process parameters require real-time monitoring, with backup critical equipment ensuring continuous stable facility operation.

Enterprises should establish comprehensive pollution discharge record systems. Data on wastewater generation, treatment, and discharge volumes should be truthfully recorded, preserving original monitoring records and operation records. Online monitoring equipment should be installed, networking with environmental protection departments for real-time pollution discharge monitoring. During abnormal situations like excessive discharge, emergency measures should be immediately taken and reported to environmental protection departments.

5.3 Water Fee Collection Standards

Thailand implements a tiered water pricing system, with different rates applying to different water use types and volumes. Enterprises should fully understand local water pricing policies for reasonable water cost budgeting. Generally, industrial water prices exceed domestic water prices, with over-quota usage subject to higher rates. Enterprises should select appropriate water use types and billing methods based on actual water usage.

Water fee payment must strictly follow specified time limits. Enterprises should designate specific personnel for water fee calculation and payment, establish water fee records, and properly maintain payment vouchers. Any water fee calculation disputes should be promptly communicated with water authorities. Water supply suspension penalties may result from payment arrears, affecting normal production, thus ensuring timely and full payment is crucial.

As Thailand’s water resource tax and fee reform progresses, water prices may continue increasing. Enterprises should closely monitor water price policy changes and prepare responses in advance. Water consumption can be reduced and water fee expenditure controlled through optimizing water usage processes and enhancing recycling. Meanwhile, attention should be paid to water fee reduction policies, with eligible enterprises applying for preferential treatment.

5.4 Violation Penalty Provisions

Thailand implements severe penalties for water resource management regulation violations. Common violations include unauthorized water extraction, excessive extraction, illegal wastewater discharge, and monitoring data tampering. Once verified, enterprises face heavy fines, with serious cases potentially resulting in ordered production suspension for rectification or even permit revocation. Therefore, enterprises must strictly comply with relevant regulations and strengthen internal management.

Enterprises should establish sound compliance management systems with regular self-inspection and correction. Full-process management of water extraction, usage, and discharge should be implemented, promptly identifying and rectifying issues. Key position personnel should strengthen legal regulation training to improve compliance awareness. Violations should be promptly stopped with corrective measures taken and actively reported to governing authorities.

Beyond administrative penalties, illegal pollution discharge may face civil compensation. Enterprises must bear compensation responsibility if pollution causes losses to others. Therefore, enterprises should strengthen environmental risk prevention and control, establishing environmental pollution liability insurance mechanisms. Meanwhile, maintaining good relations with surrounding communities is important, actively negotiating to resolve disputes when they arise to avoid conflict escalation.

Conclusion:

Water resource management holds major strategic significance for enterprises’ sustainable development in Thailand. For Chinese overseas enterprises and investors, fully understanding and effectively addressing the uniqueness and complexity of Thailand’s water resource management not only relates to daily operational efficiency but directly impacts long-term development prospects.

First, scientific water resource management is an important means for enterprises to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Through establishing comprehensive water usage management systems, enterprises can effectively control water costs and improve water resource utilization efficiency. Particularly against the background of rising water prices in Thailand, proper water resource management will bring significant economic benefits. Meanwhile, water recycling and wastewater treatment can not only reduce enterprise environmental treatment costs but also create considerable economic value.

Second, comprehensive water resource management systems provide fundamental guarantees for enterprise operational risk prevention. Thailand’s unique climate characteristics determine that enterprises must possess capabilities to address seasonal drought and flood disasters. Through establishing sound warning mechanisms and emergency plans, enterprises can effectively reduce losses from extreme weather events, ensuring production operation continuity and stability. This risk management capability will become an important advantage in Thailand’s market competition.

Third, standardized water resource management concretely demonstrates enterprise environmental responsibility fulfillment. With increasing global environmental awareness, enterprise environmental performance receives increasing attention from all parties. Good water resource management can help enterprises meet legal regulatory requirements while enhancing corporate social image, winning trust and support from government, communities, and consumers. This has far-reaching influence on enterprises’ long-term development in Thailand’s market.

Finally, water resource management capability has become an important indicator measuring enterprise competitiveness. Against the background of increasing global climate change and environmental pressure, enterprise water resource management levels directly relate to market competitiveness and development potential. Those enterprises able to establish scientific, efficient water resource management systems will occupy advantageous positions in future market competition.

Therefore, overseas enterprises and investors are advised to highly value water resource management work, making it an important component of enterprise operation management. Water resource factors should be fully considered in project early stages, with thorough research and demonstration work. During operations, management systems should be continuously improved, technological innovation strengthened, and management levels enhanced. Meanwhile, close attention should be paid to policy changes, strengthening communication with government departments and communities, timely adjusting management strategies. Only thus can enterprises achieve stable development in Thailand’s market and obtain sustained competitive advantages.

Looking forward, water resource management will continue as an important topic in enterprise operation management. With Thailand’s continued economic development and increasing environmental requirements, enterprises may face greater water resource management challenges. This requires enterprises to maintain forward-thinking mindsets, continuously invest resources, and constantly improve water resource management capabilities. Those enterprises leading in water resource management will win greater development space in future market competition.