Seri Suparathit of the Rangsit University Centre on Climate Change and Disaster, said on Thai PBS Monday night that opening gates at Khlong Mahasawat and Thawee Watthana at 1 metre could worsen floods in Thon Buri unless more pumps are deployed.
The government agreed on Monday to "open all sluice gates" along the northern perimeter of Bangkok, and promised the area would be dry in a week.
Dr Seri talked about angry Nonthaburi residents demanding BMA and Royal Irrigation Department open all sluice gates in various canals at least 1 metre high with the hope of seeing floods decline in Bang Bua Thong, Bang Yai and Bang Kruey in Nonthaburi.
Dr Seri noted that Khlong Thawee Watthan, north-south canal, is very long about 36km, making it hard to expedite floodwater flow due to its length, and further down to Phetkaseam Rd, the canal width is reduced from 30 to 20 metres, restricting the waterflow even further.
Khlong Mahasawat is also very long about 36km. It is even harder to expedite floodwater to Tha Chin and Chao Phraya river as it is a horizontal canal.
So if BMA and RID accede to Nonthaburi residents' demands, it would mean that the floods in Thonburi down to Khlong Phasi Charoen to Rama II Rd will worsen unless BMA and RID install more pumps to expedite waterflow in Khlong Mahasawat, Khlong Thawee Watthana, Khlong Phasi Charoen etc.
It is the logistics problem. Opening all the gates higher at 1 metre will help Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani up North, but whether it will worsen the floods down South depends on RID's and BMA's pumping capability.
Dr Seri then talked about the water level at Chulalongkorn sluice gate declining today about 3-4cm while Khlong Prem Pachakorn sees very little decline.
He talked about Phaholyothin Rd residents asking why the flood subsided so slowly. His reply was that Khhong Hokwa is very long before reaching pumping station.
It flows to to Khlong Lat Phrao which is also very long before reaching pumping station. So it is inevitable that drainage will take quite awhile to see floodwater decline significantly.
Again Dr Seri recommended opening Big Bag gaps wider which will shortern time to drain flood out of Don Mueang by about 10 days.
Vibhavadi canals can be used as pathway. It will not worsen flood situation on Vibhavadi as BMA's pumping stations can take more floodwater.
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