Groundwater in Thailand

Este artículo es el resultado de una visita que hizo el primer autor (Juan Mª Fornés) a Bangkok, en el mes de octubre de 2008, invitado por Ms. Somkid Buapeng, Directora General del Departament of Groundwater Resources (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand)This article offers a brief description of the water resources situation of the Kingdom of Thailand, a country with a population of over 65 million people and a surface area of 513,120 km2. The average annual rainfall is 1,430 mm and the total water resources are estimated at 215,000 Mm3 (million of m3)·year-1. The hydric demand in the country is 70,000 Mm3·year-1, 6% of which is groundwater in origin. Over 70% of the water is used for agriculture. Thailand is the world’s leading exporter of rice. The main problems faced by the Water Authority in Thailand are pollution, floods and droughts, depending on the geographical zone. From the hydrogeological point of view, the Central Plain is the main groundwater reservoir in the nation. Intensive extraction of groundwater over a long period of time has caused three main problems: a decline in groundwater levels, land subsidence, and seawater intrusion. These problems have been especially pressing in the area known as Greater Bangkok.Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaBureau of Groundwater Resources Region 4, Department of Groundwater Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Tailandi