Water Management
EGAT recognizes the critical importance of water as a limited and shared resource. In response, the organization has established effective water management strategies aimed at preventing and minimizing potential impacts on society and the environment.
| Targets for 2024 | Performance |
| ● Ensure that the quality of wastewater discharged from power plants does not exceed the regulatory limits set forth in the Notification of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Effluent Standards for Power Generation Facilities B.E. 2565 (2022) | ● The quality of wastewater discharged from EGAT’s power plants remained within the standards specified in the 2022 Notification issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, demonstrating EGAT’s commitment to environmental compliance and responsible water resource management. |
Management
EGAT recognizes the importance of water as a limited and shared resource. The organization is committed to using water efficiently in both electricity generation and internal consumption, while minimizing potential impacts on society and the environment. EGAT’s water management approach encompasses the entire water cycle, from intake and usage to discharge, ensuring strict compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Management of Water as a Shared Resource
Water is a vital resource used across EGAT’s operations, including office buildings supplied by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, hydropower plants that rely on reservoir water and especially thermal and combined cycle power plants which account for the majority of EGAT’s water consumption. These plants draw water from nearby sources, including:
- Natural sources: Rapeepat Canal (Wang Noi Power Plant), Phong River (Nam Phong Power Plant), Chao Phraya River (North and South Bangkok Power Plants), Bang Pakong River (Bang Pakong Power Plant), Pakasai Canal (Krabi Power Plant), and Phoma Canal (Chana Power Plant).
- Man-made sources: Mae Kham and Mae Chang Dams (Mae Moh Power Plant).
None of these eight water sources are designated as nationally or internationally protected areas nor do they contain protected or endangered species.
Before initiating any project, EGAT conducts environmental and health impact assessments (EIA/EHIA) to evaluate the potential effects of water usage. During operations, all power plants must obtain water use permits from relevant authorities. EGAT closely monitors water quantity and quality and past operations have shown that all sources can sustainably support power plant needs throughout both dry and rainy seasons without causing water conflicts with local communities.
EGAT also implements physical and biological mitigation and restoration measures such as installing intake screens to prevent aquatic life from entering the system and conducting annual fish and shellfish restocking activities. Regular monitoring is carried out to assess potential impacts on nearby water sources.
For hydropower plants, water is used solely by passing it through turbines, with no loss in volume. This process also supports agricultural irrigation. However, EGAT remains mindful of potential upstream and downstream community impacts. The organization conducts studies on water storage and discharge impacts, forecasts short- and long-term water availability and develops discharge plans aligned with community needs. Stakeholder engagement is also prioritized to identify concerns, discuss solutions and monitor outcomes.
At Mae Moh Mine, EGAT conducts environmental impact assessments (EIA) in accordance with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s guidelines to address potential effects on environmental quality, natural resources and public health. The mine is designed with rainwater retention ponds, where water is pumped to a controlled level. A portion of this water is reused in mining operations, such as dust suppression on roads and conveyor belts and for extinguishing coal fires. The remaining water is transferred to external sedimentation ponds and treated using a constructed wetland system before being discharged into natural waterways. Due to the geological characteristics of the Mae Moh Basin, which contains limestone layers within soil and coal seams, water quality monitoring has shown that pH levels remain neutral to slightly alkaline. No signs of acid mine drainage have been detected.
Management of Impacts from Water Discharge
For hydropower generation, EGAT utilizes advanced technologies to forecast and plan for water-related scenarios including floods and droughts. These efforts are integrated with data from both public and private sectors under the supervision of the National Water Resources Office. This ensures that EGAT’s operations do not infringe upon stakeholders’ water usage rights and remain aligned with national water resource management strategies and legal frameworks. In cases where unavoidable impacts occur, EGAT provides support to affected communities including machinery, equipment and essential supplies.
In the case of water discharge from mining operations, EGAT has established systems to separate natural water from potentially contaminated water resulting from mining activities. Adequate facilities are in place to contain and treat such water. Preventive and corrective measures are implemented throughout the project lifecycle to maintain water quality. EGAT conducts water quality monitoring at 14 stations within and around project areas every three months, covering both dry and rainy seasons. This ensures that discharged water meets industrial and environmental standards before being released into public waterways.
Water Withdrawal, Discharge and Consumption
| Data | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Total Area (Megaliter) | Water Stress Area (Megaliter) | Total Area (Megaliter) | Water Stress Area (Megaliter) | Total Area (Megaliter) | Water Stress Area (Megaliter) | |
| Water Withdrawal | ||||||
| Total water withdrawal | 245,272.63 | 224,120.38 | 213,129.71 | 194,593.94 | 241,984.62 | 164,798.52 |
| Surface water (including rain water) | 244,115.14 | 223,169.95 | 211,670.85 | 193,239.78 | 241,000.16 | 164,642.79 |
| – Fresh water | 139,161.03 | 136,526.74 | 123,139.27 | 121,014.16 | 106,573.15 | 67,836.97 |
| – Other water | 104,954.11 | 86,643.20 | 88,531.58 | 72,225.62 | 134,427.00 | 96,805.82 |
| Ground water | 82.52 | 38.58 | 102.00 | 58.81 | 124.209 | 49.771 |
| – Fresh water | 82.52 | 38.58 | 102.00 | 58.81 | 124.209 | 49.771 |
| – Other water | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Third party | 1,074.96 | 911.85 | 1,356.86 | 1,295.34 | 860.255408 | 7.866 |
| – Fresh water | 1,074.96 | 911.85 | 1,356.86 | 1,295.34 | 860.255408 | 105.962138 |
| – Other water | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Water Discharge | ||||||
| Total water discharge | 180,974.33 | 169,222.05 | 134,061.94 | 123,818.27 | 155,107.12 | 102,923.41 |
| – To surface water | 179,218.25 | 167,465.98 | 131,860.21 | 121,616.54 | 153,068.12 | 100,884.41 |
| – To ground water | 1,756.08 | 1,756.08 | 2,201.73 | 2,201.73 | 2,039.00 | 2,039.00 |
| – To sea | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| – To third party | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| – Fresh water | 73,929.04 | 73,924.31 | 55,626.43 | 55,625.14 | 43,097.95 | 24,821.61 |
| – Other water | 107,045.29 | 95,297.74 | 78,435.51 | 68,193.13 | 112,009.17 | 78,101.80 |
| Water Consumption | ||||||
| Total water consumption | 64,298.30 | 54,898.32 | 79,067.76 | 70,775.67 | 86,877.50 | 61,875.12 |
Note
– Fresh water means water with total dissolved solid (TDS) not exceeding 1,000 mg/liter
– Other water means water with total dissolved solid (TDS) from 1,000 mg/liter
– Water consumption means amount of water withdrawn – amount of water discharged