Case Studies

Chulalongkorn University lays out long-term water management solutions through multifaceted research and proposes sustainable water management strategies for the nation in collaboration with relevant government agencies

Chulalongkorn University has fostered partnerships and alliances with government agencies and local administrative organizations. These collaborations are spearheaded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the Royal Irrigation Department, the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), as well as the provinces of Khon Kaen, Lopburi, and the local administrative organizations in Nan. The goal is to tackle the country’s challenges on a macro level across various facets. Water management is one key issue in Thailand’s 20-year national strategic plan. The plan aims to comprehensively address problems from upstream to midstream to downstream. This will be achieved by leveraging knowledge, research, and innovations in water quality management to establish standards.

Additionally, the strategic plan includes releasing water into basins to maximize benefits across agriculture, urban residential areas, and industrial zones while considering the ecology of forests and the welfare of wildlife species.

Over the past 3 years, there have been several seminars and workshops to develop water management strategies and guidelines, situation monitoring activities and field trips to address water-related issues such as flooding, drought and poor water quality. Chulalongkorn University has participated and worked together with agencies, experts and personnel involved in domestic and international water issues.

On December 13, 2021, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) partnered with Chulalongkorn University to conduct a skills enhancement training course on “Coastal Resources Knowledge.” This collaboration was formalized through a memorandum of understanding focused on academic cooperation, knowledge sharing, and exchange of academic information. The multifaceted training encompassed topics like marine science, marine ecology, coastal management, oceanography, coastal erosion, and mangrove ecology. The goal was to cultivate ongoing study, joint research, and lectures between institutions while providing collaborative work opportunities, internships, and related training. The event was chaired by Dr. Pornsri Suthanaruk, Deputy Director General of the DMCR, along with Dr. Supachai Tangchairtr, Director of the Academic Services Center, and Prof. Dr. Voranop Viyakarn, Director of the Aquatic Resources Research Institute. Officials from the DMCR, Chula faculty, and related agencies participated in the enriching training.

On April 5, 2022, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and Chulalongkorn University held a seminar on “New Trends in Basin & Community Water Management” with domestic and foreign experts, including Prof. Dr. Ming Daw Su from National Taiwan University, Mr. Chinnawat Srimmaneekham from Creative Wisdom Co., Ltd., Dr. Jiraporn Somyanonthanakun from Mahasarakham University, Prof. Dr. Seigo Nasu, President of the Non-Profit Organization Institute for Social Contribution, Japan, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongsak Suttinon, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University.

On June 2, 2022, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and Chulalongkorn University visited Sri Boonreung Subdistrict, Khon Kaen Province to solve flooding and drought issues for the community urgently. The visit was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sucharit Kunatongvong, Chairman of the Focused Research Project on Water Management, NRCT. It was part of the research project supported by Chulalongkorn University titled “Guidelines for Developing Community-Level Water User Groups in Participatory Water Management Planning at the Local Level”. [ https://www.khaosod.co.th/pr-news/news_7091177 ]

On July 4, 2022, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), and Chulalongkorn University organized the 3rd public hearing to prepare for flooding and drought situations in Lopburi Province, as part of the central region efforts following the northern province of Nan and the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. The goal is to collaboratively develop flood and drought management plans and data collection processes through the mobile app under the “Guidelines for Developing Community-Level Water User Groups in Participatory Water Management Planning at the Local Level” project. This is to establish approaches for forming and enhancing water user organizations’ capabilities in practical local-level water management planning. It covers 33 subdistricts in 5 regions across 15 provinces, aligning with the priority placed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation on developing water user organizations to improve water management planning capabilities in these areas that can be expanded to other locations in the future. The efforts help increase human resource capacity and potential in sustainably administering the country’s water resources through public participation and local administrative organizations. NRCT supports knowledge, innovation and technology development, community water data systems through the DATA STUDIO platform to facilitate TWR data for community water management by water user organizations. The goal is to achieve community water management plans consistent with the national water resources management strategy (2015-2026) under the 20-year national strategy, by developing communities’ participatory data collection capabilities using mobile apps to collect information on community water sources. This promotes and supports systematic development and transfer of sustainable water resource management, which marks an important innovation milestone in efficiently managing the country’s water resources through participation by all sectors for stability and sustainability in the future. [ https://www.thaikufanews.com/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%9A/33549 ]

On November 28, 2022, Mr. Pardorn Thawornkajornrattana, Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department, attended a discussion on wetland carbon credits with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sucharit Koonatongvong from Chulalongkorn University, representatives from the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), and the department’s executives. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sucharit Koonatongvong mentioned research on increasing global methane levels, the amount originating from wetlands, and carbon credit information related to wetlands. TGO also provided information on the Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction Program based on Thailand’s standards in the forestry sector and certified carbon credits from domestic trading projects. [ https://www.dwr.go.th/news_inside.php?news_id=109968 ]

On June 16, 2023, the Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen Province delivered an opening speech to commence the seminar on Community Water Planning and Local Administration in Khon Kaen Province. This was followed by an introduction to the NRCT Spearhead Research Program Phase 3. Additionally, there was a meeting session with the Provincial Water Resources Subcommittee and a knowledge sharing session on local water resources management among leaders of local administrative organizations.

On June 26, 2023, a meeting session was held on community water plans by water user agencies and local administrators in Nan Province. The Deputy Governor opened the session and included a co-lecture by the Director General of the Water Resources Department. The objectives were to understand how to draft local community water plans and conserve watersheds in alignment with the National Water Management Strategies. Additionally, the discussion covered how to input plans into the Thai Water Plan for budget requests, water infrastructure installation, and community water plan development with participation and community water databases under the NRCT Spearhead Research Program on Water Management.

Chulalongkorn University has led extensive research and collaboration with government agencies to develop sustainable water management solutions for Thailand. Leveraging partnerships with organizations like the National Research Council of Thailand, Chula has hosted seminars, training, and fieldwork to address flooding, drought, and water quality issues. Key focus areas include establishing standards through water quality innovations, maximizing distribution benefits for agriculture and urban areas, and considering ecological impacts. Initiatives like community water planning and capacity building of user groups aim to engage stakeholders for integrated, participatory water resource management aligned with Thailand’s long-term strategic vision.

BY

Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University