Water Utilities & Infrastructure

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt explained that the Bueng Khu Bon and Bueng Bang Chan projects are studies by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that apply the monkey cheek concept, not projects directly stemming from royal initiatives. He confirmed that the consideration was based on academic data, drainage efficiency, budget value, and public benefit. After the major flood in 2011, the Drainage Department studied approaches for creating six water retention ponds, with four projects previously halted after public consultation processes. Bueng Khu Bon and Bueng Bang Chan remained as the two projects under continued consideration. But upon reviewing the details, the investment amounts were found to be high, so they had to be compared with other approaches. According to the consultant team's study, the system-wide monkey cheek approach would cost about 11 billion baht, while the approach of improving canals and the drainage system would cost about 6.7 billion baht. The BMA therefore considered improving canals to convey water faster, alongside enhancing the efficiency of Bueng Nong Bon and the drainage tunnel system. On the issue of connections with a real estate company, Chadchart stated that he had previously served as an executive of Quality Houses Public Company Limited, which had filed an objection to a project in the Phatthanakan area through the process prescribed by law. But decisions about the project are the authority of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the cancellation of the project occurred during the term of a previous Bangkok governor, while he did not hold the position at that time. As for water management principles, an effective monkey cheek must have water retention areas, water intake systems, and appropriate water discharge systems. Bueng Khu Bon and Bueng Bang Chan have a combined capacity of about 1 million cubic meters, while the volume of rainwater in Bangkok is large and spread across many areas, so the entire drainage system must be considered, not just increasing water storage areas alone. Chadchart stressed that the BMA is ready to listen to additional information from all parties. If there is new information, technical proposals, or facts that differ from the data currently used in its consideration, the Drainage Department is ready to examine and review them carefully.

Pennon Group said on Wednesday it would raise about £550 million through a fully underwritten rights issue and cut its dividend as its new CEO launched an overhaul of the water utility's operations and stepped up investment. The total dividend for the 2026/2027 financial year will be cut to approximately £125 million from £138 million for 2025/2026, with the lower payout applying to both the interim and final dividends, and after accounting for the cut, the rights issue and a bonus factor, Pennon put the implied underlying reduction in dividend per share at approximately 30%, leaving an expected dividend of around 18 pence per share. The rights issue, launched on Wednesday, will fund more investment in the regulated water businesses and supports about £1 billion of additional investment, with full terms in a separate announcement and an international offering circular published the same day. Capital investment in the regulated water businesses over AMP8 is now expected to be approximately £3.6 billion, around £1 billion more than Pennon's original plan based on the AMP8 Final Determination, and the total investment programme is expected to deliver RCV growth of over 40% across AMP8, up from the 34% set at the start of the period. In a draft decision on Ofwat's 2026 cost change process, the regulator provisionally allowed £230 million, or £190 million in 2022/23 prices, which is 76% of the amount Pennon requested, and Pennon estimates it will make around £170 million of further investment through the 2027 and 2028 cost change processes, subject to Ofwat approval, targeting total additional RCV from cost change of £400 million.

Krungsri Securities said in an analysis that TTW Public Company Limited, or TTW, is expected to post net profit of 863 million baht in the third quarter of 2026, down 12% year on year but up 31% quarter on quarter. The water supply business is still growing slightly on higher water sales volumes from TTW and BIE, driven by industrial customers' water demand, but it is being pressured by the profit contribution from CKP, which is expected to be weak year on year because electricity output from the NN2 dam fell about 50% year on year, in line with the dam's inflow, while the gross margin of the SPP power plant declined on higher gas costs. If profit meets expectations, net profit for the first nine months of 2026 would represent 72% of the full-year 2026 figure, slightly below the 75% seen in the first nine months of 2025. For the fourth quarter of 2026, net profit is expected to fall both year on year and quarter on quarter due to a lower gross margin from higher depreciation costs and lower water selling prices, as well as the prospect of a weaker profit contribution from CKP amid El Niño conditions in the second half of 2026. The research team maintains a Neutral recommendation on its unchanged 2027 target price of 10.0 baht, based on the SOTP method. Because TTW's profit trend over 2026 to 2028 is expected to stay roughly flat and unremarkable, the team keeps its Hold recommendation to collect dividends on stable DPS from the water supply business, representing a dividend yield of about 6% per year over 2026 to 2028.

The Royal Irrigation Department is preparing to gradually reduce the discharge below Chao Phraya Dam to 2,400 cubic metres per second, after water volumes from upstream areas have continued to trend downward. Currently, Chao Phraya Dam is releasing water at a rate of 2,500 cubic metres per second, and the water level above the dam stands at +16.38 metres above mean sea level. The reduction will begin at 08:00 today, 7 October, decreasing by about 20 cubic metres per second per hour until it reaches 2,400 cubic metres per second at 13:00, and that rate will be maintained thereafter. As of 06:00, Station P.17 on the Ping River had a flow of 484 cubic metres per second, while Station N.67 on the Nan River had a flow of 998 cubic metres per second, bringing the combined flow at Station C.2 in Nakhon Sawan province down to 1,915 cubic metres per second. Meanwhile, the Sakae Krang River at Station Ct.19 in Uthai Thani province had a flow of 52 cubic metres per second. At the same time, the department has reduced water intake into the irrigation systems on both the eastern and western sides to a combined 487 cubic metres per second, down from 564 cubic metres per second yesterday, so that management of the entire water system remains balanced and consistent with the declining water volumes. The Royal Irrigation Department will continue to closely monitor rainfall and runoff from upstream areas.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed all agencies to manage water situations and transport systems to support the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, to be held from October 12 to 18, 2026, in Bangkok, which will bring delegates from 191 countries and approximately 15,000 accompanying persons into Thailand. Government spokesman Ekapop Pienpiset said the Prime Minister chaired a meeting of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command to monitor flood situations and assistance to the public, issuing eight directives covering the drainage of reservoirs and waterways that are full or nearly full; the removal of waterway obstructions at bottlenecks, bridges, drainage pipes and underpasses; more precise targeting of risk areas; the mobilization of machinery from the public and private sectors; the immediate start of rehabilitation in zones where water has receded; preparation of rehabilitation plans and compensation for eligible households; discussions with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives on assistance for farmers whose crops were damaged; and consideration of reducing or waiving water and electricity charges for flood-affected households by waterworks and electricity agencies at both central and regional levels. He also instructed Airports of Thailand and the Ministry of Transport to fully manage inbound and outbound passenger travel and transport, and to expedite the return of services to normal as quickly as possible, in order to build confidence in Thailand's ability to host participants and attract foreign investment.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has completed repairs to its online registration system for flood victims seeking assistance, and about 35,800 people have now registered. Lalida Periswiwatana, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, said Bangkok is accelerating drainage in the eastern areas, particularly Min Buri, Nong Chok, Prawet, Saphan Sung, Sai Mai and Lat Krabang, and is mobilising water pumps and water-pushing boats to help. Wissanu Charoen, director of the drainage system engineering division at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Drainage Office, said the urgent operation is focused on reclaiming the Rom Klao community housing area in Lat Krabang district, where the water level has been reduced by about 30 to 60 centimetres, though roads in the area are still flooded by about 20 to 30 centimetres. Yesterday the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration added more flood barriers and installed additional water pumps, and expects to lower the water level by about 25 centimetres per day, with roughly two more days needed to return the area to normal. In the Sai Mai–Ao Ngoen area, the situation is expected to ease within about two days. People who have already registered and wish to correct their information can log in to the system to update it, or contact their district office during official working days and hours.

Jesada Chantraprapha, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said at the joint flood situation press center at Government House that the BMA is accelerating drainage to minimize the impact on residents in outer areas as much as possible. The current situation of northern runoff and seawater intrusion has not yet had a significant impact, but rainfall that may increase further still needs to be monitored. For water management in each area, the BMA has coordinated with the Lak Hok community to consider opening additional sluice gates on Khlong Prem Prachakon to draw water from Khlong Rangsit Prayunsak and the northern areas. In the Khlong Song area of Pathum Thani Province, the BMA is rushing to open sluice gates on Khlong Lat Phrao, Khlong Mo Taek, and Khlong Phraya Suren to ease the hardship of residents in Lam Luk Ka District, in Lat Sawai Subdistrict and Khukhot Subdistrict. On Khlong Saen Saep, water is being drained rapidly outside the Min Buri sluice gate, while on Khlong Prawet Burirom, water is being drained rapidly at the Lat Krabang gate to reduce the impact in the area of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and surrounding areas. Additional pumps are also being installed to assist the Keha Thani, Keha Rom Klao, and Nawathani communities. Meanwhile, Bangkok residents affected by the floods can now register to claim relief payments through two main channels: the Tang Rat application and the Bangkok system website at claim.bangkok.go.th

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has confirmed the cancellation of the Bueng Khu Bon and Bueng Bang Chan monkey-cheek flood-retention projects, saying they are not worth the roughly 11 billion baht budget. Jesada Chantraprapha, deputy permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said the two ponds can hold only 700,000 cubic metres of water, compared with about 5 million cubic metres managed by Bueng Nong Bon, or roughly ten times more, and that Bueng Nong Bon is also connected to the tunnel system and main canals. He also insisted that no private party received any undue benefit. Chawalit Chantararat, a water management expert and chief executive of TEAM GROUP, said Bueng Khu Bon has a design capacity of about 870,000 cubic metres but can actually manage only around 500,000 cubic metres, and that when the current land price and the cost of building all the associated systems are combined, the cost framework for the Khu Bon project comes to about 11 billion baht. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is therefore laying out a plan to develop the eastern drainage system as an integrated whole, running through Khlong Phraya Suren, Khlong Sam Wa, Khlong Saen Saep and Khlong Prawet Burirom, linking to Bueng Nong Bon, the drainage tunnel and a large pumping station, while taking in more water from Min Buri, Bang Kapi, Lat Krabang and Rom Klao.

Captiva Verde Corp. announced an agreement to launch the first atmospheric water stations for The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, with an operational effective date scheduled for October 26 or earlier. The terms of the agreement are confidential. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, which has approximately 10,000 properties in 146 countries and territories. Captiva Verde said its largest water stations, capable of up to 10,000 gallons per day, will be constructed globally at a fraction of the cost of traditional infrastructure upgrades, producing pure, plastic-free water on location. The company added that it is also building water stations for governments and bottling companies, with more news to follow.

The National Water Policy Committee, or NWPC, has approved increasing the discharge from Chao Phraya Dam from 2,200 cubic metres per second yesterday to 2,300 cubic metres per second this morning, stepping it up gradually by about 100 cubic metres per second per day within a ceiling of no more than 2,500 cubic metres per second. Government spokesman Ekapop Pienpiset said the water mass from the Ping River is flowing at about 1,000 cubic metres per second and has reached Nakhon Sawan province, and is expected to reach Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province within one day before flowing on to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province on 3 October 2026. Meanwhile, Pa Sak Jolasid Dam is holding more than 100 percent of its storage capacity and has increased its discharge by 200 cubic metres per second, with a plan to keep releases below 300 cubic metres per second, as is the case at Rama VI Dam. As for Vajiralongkorn Dam, whose water level is near full capacity, releases began today at 500 cubic metres per second, or about 40 million cubic metres. Mae Klong Dam is releasing water at 2,200 cubic metres per second. Based on the overall assessment, the combined volume expected to flow into the Chao Phraya River is not expected to exceed 3,000 cubic metres per second, which would keep the water level in Bangkok at about 2.00 to 2.25 metres, roughly 40 centimetres below the flood barriers. The prime minister has ordered preparations for a new round of rain from 4 to 8 October 2026, with 6 to 7 October expected to bring above-normal rainfall in Kanchanaburi province and the western areas, while Bangkok is expected to see the seasonal change in the weather around 7 to 8 October.

The National Water Resources Office has mobilized all agencies to use the period of reduced rainfall to speed the push of water into the Gulf of Thailand, managing the effort in an interconnected way basin by basin, with Bhumibol Dam and Sirikit Dam helping to hold back water in the upper reaches, while preparing a plan to handle an increase in releases below Chao Phraya Dam. Chayan Muangsong, secretary-general of the National Water Resources Office, disclosed that, based on weather monitoring together with the Meteorological Department and the Hydro-Informatics Institute, a high-pressure system, or cold air mass from China, will spread down to cover the North and the upper Northeast during October 5-7, 2026, causing rainfall to increase again, starting in the Northeast and then moving toward the western side of the country. For the Chao Phraya basin, the volume of water flowing past station C.2 in Mueang Nakhon Sawan district is expected to rise to a maximum of no more than 2,700 cubic meters per second, combined with roughly 500 to 600 cubic meters per second of runoff from the Sakae Krang River joining in. At present, Chao Phraya Dam is releasing water at a rate of 2,300 cubic meters per second and will gradually raise that to 2,400 cubic meters per second this afternoon. Meanwhile, Bhumibol Dam temporarily halted releases on September 30 and October 1, 2026, and Sirikit Dam cut its releases to 7 million cubic meters per day. In the Pa Sak basin, Pa Sak Jolasid Dam is at 109 percent of its storage capacity, so releases into the Pa Sak River must be gradually stepped up to 30 million cubic meters per day, which means Rama VI Dam must prepare to increase its releases accordingly. In the Mae Klong basin, Vajiralongkorn Dam is at 99 percent of its storage capacity, leaving only about 123 million cubic meters of room to hold water. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has revised its release plan to 42 million cubic meters per day, and it expects to keep releases below Mae Klong Dam at a rate of about 2,200 cubic meters per second. For the Bang Pakong basin, Khlong Si Yat Dam is at 94 percent of its storage capacity and Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam is at 97 percent of its storage capacity, while in the eastern coastal basin, Prasae Dam is at 105 percent of its storage capacity. The secretary-general of the National Water Resources Office added that he has stressed to the Royal Irrigation Department and relevant agencies that they must quickly increase the capacity to pump water out of all areas affected by flooding, and that they must also monitor the factor of high sea tides in early October, which could hinder drainage.

Tsukishima Holdings and Mitsubishi Kakoki, both engaged in water treatment and industrial machinery plants, announced on the 30th that they will integrate their management on April 1, 2027. They will establish a joint holding company, Mitsubishi Tsukishima Kakoki Holdings. Through a share exchange, Mitsubishi Kakoki will acquire all shares of Tsukishima HD, and Tsukishima Holdings is scheduled to be delisted on March 30, 2027. The share exchange ratio is 1 to 0.88, with 0.88 Mitsubishi Kakoki shares allotted for each Tsukishima Holdings share. Tsukishima HD also announced that it will carry out a buyback of up to 1 million shares, equivalent to 2.5% of its issued shares, for up to 3 billion yen. The acquisition period runs from October 5 to March 19, 2027, and the acquired shares will be cancelled immediately before Mitsubishi Kakoki acquires the Tsukishima HD shares.

Naphinthorn Srisanpang, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and chairman of the subcommittee on flood and drought prevention and resolution for the Mae Klong and Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan river basins, said the Vajiralongkorn Dam in Kanchanaburi province is at 90% water capacity and must therefore accelerate its water release. On 29 September it released 30 million cubic metres per day, and today that has risen to 42 million cubic metres per day. The water flows down to join the Mae Klong Dam, where it mixes with water downstream of that dam, raising the Mae Klong Dam's discharge from 2,000 cubic metres per second to 2,300 cubic metres per second, and by noon today it will release 2,500 cubic metres per second. Naphinthorn said that to avoid affecting residents along the riverbanks, only 1,500 cubic metres per second should be released, but the current water level will rise about 2 metres above the bank line, so impacts in the Mae Klong basin are expected to be limited to riverbank and low-lying areas. Overall, farmland has been largely unaffected by flooding, and every province has prepared shelters, three meals a day, and advance warnings telling residents to move their belongings to higher ground.

The Royal Irrigation Department has increased water discharge through Chao Phraya Dam to 2,500 cubic metres per second from 12:00 on 30 September 2026 to cope with northern water volumes that are trending sharply higher. It had earlier issued a sixth warning notice on the Chao Phraya basin situation to the governors of 11 provinces: Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Bangkok. The department forecasts that on 2 October 2026 at Station C.2 in Mueang Nakhon Sawan district, the peak flow may reach about 3,000 cubic metres per second, plus roughly 700 to 750 cubic metres per second from tributaries, putting the volume above Chao Phraya Dam at about 3,600 to 3,700 cubic metres per second. With about 550 to 580 cubic metres per second being taken into the irrigation system on both banks, water levels in low-lying areas outside the flood barriers must be watched with particular care in four provinces: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri and Chai Nat. The increased discharge will not affect communities inside the flood barriers. Flying Officer Phatdarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, said the warning is an advance preparation measure and urged the public to be alert but not alarmed, to move belongings to higher ground, to relocate cars, livestock and farm equipment to safe areas, and to keep following official announcements.