สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

11 ศิ ริ พงศ์ หั งษพฤกษ์ วารสารราชบัณฑิตยสถาน ปีที่ ๓๗ ฉบับที่ ๑ ม.ค.-มี.ค. ๒๕๕๕ Abstract Water Resources Management by Public Sector Siripong Hungspreug Director of Highland Research and Development Institute and Former Director General of Water Resources Department Water resource is essential for life as it is used for drinking, domestic consumption, agricultural and industrial production, transportation, power generation, tourism, cul- tural promotion, health restoration and ecosystem conservation. The understanding on water cycle in a river basin context could clearly assess water balance in each area. This shows that Thailand facing a problem of water security. Water deficit appears mainly in the Northeast and in the North. There are 91 million rai (14.56 million ha) of non-irrigated area, 27 million rai (4.32 million ha) of flood-proned area and 4 river basins with poor water quality. The problems become more severe with increasing development as well as growing population. Water management in Thailand emphasizes an integrated river basin approach with participation of stakeholders. Thailand has declared national water agenda, water vision and water policy covering the mitigation of problems of water deficit, flooding, poor water quality and inefficient water management. Strategy, work plan, and important activities are identified. Research on water management particularly on natural water resource conservation to balance uses of water with aquatic ecosystem, the improve- ment of efficiency of irrigation system, the management of water and land in the non-irrigated and outside service area, the proper institution in water management, the management of drought, flood and water quality, the timely and reliable forecasting system, the management of transbounlary water, the sustainability of groundwater, and the preparation to respond to the impact of climate changes are all important topics to play roles in shaping government policy as well as to cope with the demand of people for efficient, equitable and sustainable water management in Thailand. Key words: water resource, water management