UN-WATER/WWAP/2007/03 Case study: Thailand National Water Development Report: Thailand Prepared within the framework of the 2nd phase of the World Water Development Programme (WWAP) 2006 i UN-WATER/WWAP/2007/03 TABLE OF CONTENT Table of Content............................................................................................................i Table of Tables ......................................................................................................... xiii Table of Figures .........................................................................................................xv Preface...................................................................................................................... xvi List of Abbreviation................................................................................................... xvii BACKGROUND .........................................................................................................xx 1. General Context .................................................................................xx 2. Major Characteristics......................................................................... 22 2.1. Physiographical conditions ................................................................ 22 2.2. Climate .............................................................................................. 22 2.3. Land use............................................................................................ 23 2.4. Major socio-economic characteristics................................................ 24 2.4.1. Demography ...................................................................................... 24 2.4.2. Education data................................................................................... 25 2.4.3. Health data ........................................................................................ 25 3. The Policy in Water Sector................................................................ 26 3.1. National water policy ......................................................................... 26 3.2. Target of the government .................................................................. 27 3.3. Progress toward Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ................ 27 3.4. Reference .......................................................................................... 28 3.5. Recommended Reading/Website...................................................... 29 A- GOVERNANCE ISSUES...................................................................................... 30 Challenge: Governing Water Wisely...................................................................... 30 1. Governing Water Wisely.................................................................... 30 1.1. Management Problems ..................................................................... 30 1.1.1. National Level.................................................................................... 30 1.1.2. Basin Level ........................................................................................ 31 ii UN-WATER/WWAP/2007/03 1.2. Institutions (Ownership and responsibility) ........................................ 32 1.2.1. International....................................................................................... 32 1.2.2. National ............................................................................................. 32 1.2.3. Basin Level ........................................................................................ 34 1.2.4. Provincial and Local .......................................................................... 37 1.3. Public Sector Reform......................................................................... 37 1.4. Legislation ......................................................................................... 37 1.4.1. The Constitution ................................................................................ 37 1.4.2. Existing water laws ............................................................................ 39 1.4.3. Draft Water Resources Law .............................................................. 39 1.5. Goals and programs .......................................................................... 39 1.5.1. National goals and programs currently in progress ........................... 39 1.5.2. Progress in Achieving Millennium Development Goals ..................... 40 1.6. Management Approaches (Resource, Quality, Disasters, Environmental, Knowledge)................................................................................... 41 1.6.1. Demand Management ....................................................................... 41 1.6.2. Stakeholder Participation................................................................... 41 1.7. Policy Implementation, Financial Resources, Planning Process and Human Resources................................................................................................. 42 1.8. Implementation of an integrated water resources management (IWRM) 42 1.9. Indicators........................................................................................... 43 1.10. Conclusions....................................................................................... 43 1.11. References ........................................................................................ 43 1.12. Recommended Reading.................................................................... 43 B- THE RESOURCE................................................................................................. 44 2. Water resources of Thailand ............................................................. 44 2.1. Hydrology (variation in time and space) ............................................ 44 2.1.1. Spatial variance of water availability.................................................. 44 2.1.1.1. Surface water .................................................................................... 44 iii UN-WATER/WWAP/2007/03 2.1.1.2. Groundwater aquifers ........................................................................ 44 2.1.2. Spatial variance of water quality........................................................ 47 2.2. Data and information on water resources.......................................... 49 2.2.1. Availability of hydrological and meteorological observation stations . 49 2.2.1.1. Observed climatic variation and long term projections ...................... 49 2.2.1.2. Hydrological observation stations...................................................... 50 2.2.2. Human impacts on water resources .................................................. 50 2.2.2.1. Through Surface Cover (Type of Vegetation).................................... 50 2.2.2.2. Through Dams and Diversions (Size, Storage Capacity etc) ............ 52 2.2.2.3. Pollutants........................................................................................... 53 2.3. Reference .......................................................................................... 54 C- Challenges to Life and Well-Being ....................................................................... 55 Challenge: Water and Health ............................................................................... 55 3. Water for basic needs and health...................................................... 55 3.1. Average water consumption per capita ............................................. 55 3.2. Quality and quantity of water ............................................................. 56 1. Access to safe drinking water and sanitation .................................... 56 2. Quality of drinking water .................................................................... 56 3.3. Existence of monitoring mechanisms and standards ........................ 56 3.4. Basic services.................................................................................... 57 3.4.1. Drinking and sanitation coverage (Actual and future targets)............ 57 3.4.2. Affordability of water services............................................................ 57 3.4.2.1. Provisions for poor and minorities ..................................................... 57 3.4.2.2. Social expectations............................................................................ 57 3.5. Water related diseases...................................................................... 57 3.5.1.1. Public health problems with decreasing trends ................................. 57 3.5.1.2. Public Health Problems with Minimal Changes ................................. 58 3.6. Civil Society and Health Development in Thailand............................ 61 iv UN-WATER/WWAP/2007/03 3.6.1. State efforts in establishing civil society. ........................................... 61 3.6.2. Real Civil Society in Health Development ......................................... 61 3.6.2.1. Civic movement on HIV/AIDS............................................................ 61 3.6.3. The way forward ................................................................................ 61 3.7. Health Policy and legislation.............................................................. 62 3.7.1. Health Policies and Plans.................................................................. 62 3.7.1.1. The 1st - 7th Plan period (1961-1996)............................................... 62 3.7.1.2. The 8th Plan period (1997-2001)......................................................