Water Allocation from Kaeng Krachan Reservoir for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

     This study was conducted 1) to evaluate water demand from Kaeng Krachan reservoir during dry season between January and June, and 2) to analyze models of water allocation from Kaeng Krachan reservoir with the aim of environmental friendly outcome. Water allocation among agricultural, industrial, consumption and maintaining downstream ecosystem demands was carried out to analyze the models of water allocation in order to make the outcome more environmentally friendly. In this study, there were three levels of 5, 10, and 15 cubic meters per second of water to maintain downstream ecosystem. This study showed that water demand from Kaeng Krachan reservoir currently had an average of 320-350 million cubic meters allocating to agricultural sector, industrial sector, consumption and maintaining downstream ecosystem with the average of 280-300, 8-10, 1-2 and 30-40 million cubic meters, respectively. In addition, the models of water allocation with 5 million cubic meters/second or with an average of 8-10 million cubic meters for consumption, 1-2 million cubic meters for industrial sector, 240-260 million cubic meters for agricultural sector, and 70-80 million cubic meters for maintaining downstream ecosystem during dry season provided the most environmentally friendly benefits.