Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

Regulatory Control of Water Resources
Surface water. The utilization of surface runoff water is regulated by Section 1339
of the Civil and Commercial Code. This section recognizes a natural principle that
water always flows to a lower place and that a landowner must accept the natural
flow of water across the land. The provision also entitles a landowner to retain
surface runoff to meet the needs of farm production and livelihood needs and the
surplus water must be allowed to flow naturally. The Code also recognizes the right
of the landholder to retain water in a well or pond and to prohibit access of other
persons to this water source.
Irrigation water. The use and management of water in irrigation canals is tightly
controlled by the Royal Irrigation Act, 1942, which is intended to govern the
construction, operation and maintenance of irrigation projects undertaken by RID.
Several Acts deal with the protection of waterways. These Acts generally prohibit
the dumping of rubbish and other materials, toxic water and toxic chemicals into
waterways and establish fines and imprisonment for offenders. Most of these Acts
are now very old and the fines and punishment and the scope and nature of
pollution covered are no longer in keeping with modern conditions and
circumstances.
Groundwater. The Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR) regulates groundwater
usage through the issue of permits for water well drilling. The DGR is responsible
for reviewing water well drilling requests and issue water well permits within the
Bangkok Metropolitan area. The DGR also takes the responsibility for collecting the
groundwater fee payment from private sector users in accordance with the reading
from water well meters attached to the permitted wells.
Since over-exploitation of groundwater became the major cause of land subsidence
and deterioration of groundwater quality in the area of Bangkok, the cabinet regulated
a groundwater and land subsidence preventive and mitigation measure for the area
in 1983. The main aim of this measure is to set critical groundwater zones, of which
three are identified according to the degree of land subsidence. Land subsidence
also has a direct effect on increased flooding in local areas where there has been
heavy groundwater withdrawal. The precise definition of sustainable groundwater
abstraction rates and the regulatory control of sustainable groundwater abstraction
levels is critical in avoiding any further land subsidence.
International Experience with Water Resources Management
Principles and Practices
In recent years the key principles and practices of good integrated water resource
management have achieved international consensus. These principles are based on
the - often poorly appreciated - fact that water is a finite resource, essential for life,
yet vulnerable to degradation.
In developing and developed countries where good IWRM is practiced, there are four
features that constitute best practice:
1. An institutional framework is developed which is both robust and flexible,
and includes modern legislation and an integrated policy framework.
2. Planning and management is knowledge-driven. Strategic assessment of
water and related resources receives high priority, and does not stop at
mere data management, but actively pursues the generation of strategically
focused information and knowledge.
A-44 THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING