"Suriya," Minister of Agriculture, has urged the Royal Irrigation Department to closely monitor the situation and prepare for the rainy season by proactively managing water resources to minimize impacts on the public.
Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, stated that Thailand has officially entered the rainy season. He has instructed the Royal Irrigation Department to closely monitor rainfall, water conditions, and water levels in various sources. They are to plan water management tailored to each area's situation to prevent and mitigate flood impacts on citizens as much as possible, in line with the government's policy to reduce disaster risks and safeguard people's welfare.
As of 15 June 2026, large and medium-sized reservoirs nationwide hold approximately 42,938 million cubic meters of water, which is 56% of total reservoir capacity. They can still accommodate about 33,816 million cubic meters more. Meanwhile, the four main dams in the Chao Phraya basin — Bhumibol, Sirikit, Kwae Noi Bamrung Dan, and Pasak Cholasit Dams — hold a combined 13,023 million cubic meters (52% of their total capacity) and can still receive over 11,800 million cubic meters. This indicates there is still considerable capacity to hold water for the coming rainfall period.
Regarding the Chao Phraya basin water situation, at 06:00 on 15 June 2026, water flow at station C2 in Nakhon Sawan Province was 684 cubic meters per second. This water flows downstream to the Chao Phraya Dam sequentially. The Royal Irrigation Department manages water above the dam by diverting a total of 493 cubic meters per second into irrigation systems on both sides, resulting in a flow of 120 cubic meters per second passing through the dam, which currently does not affect downstream areas.
Weather monitoring and forecasts by the Meteorological Department indicate that the El Niño phenomenon remains a factor that may cause weather variability, including fluctuations in rainfall amount and distribution at times. Therefore, the Royal Irrigation Department has been ordered to prepare for tracking weather data, assessing water situation trends, managing water in dams and irrigation systems appropriately, and readying machinery, equipment, and personnel to operate in high-risk areas.
Water management during the rainy season follows the government's and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' policies, which require all agencies to be prepared for water-related situations. In particular, the Royal Irrigation Department is urged to manage water carefully, prioritizing water security for consumption, agriculture, and public safety. Continuous close monitoring is essential to ensure efficient water management and to minimize potential impacts on the public as much as possible.