Walailak University’s Support for Off-Campus Water Conservation: Enhancing Community Engagement in 2023

14Oct 2024 by Kittipong Bunlear

Outreach and Engagement

Currently, Walailak University actively supports practical water conservation off campus through continuous community engagement. In 2023, the university initiated the “Living Weir” project to conserve water in the Na Mai Pai area, Thung Song District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. This project focuses on a continuous digital monitoring development, evaluation, and assessment system to measure the changes and benefits of the living weir.

The Na Mai Pai community, located in Na Mai Pai Subdistrict, Thung Song District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, predominantly consists of agricultural workers who have been facing a severe water shortage crisis for both consumption and domestic use. Recognizing the importance of addressing this water crisis, Walailak University has extended its support for practical water conservation off campus, building on the initiatives started in previous years. This support is implemented through a participatory process involving local citizens, local administrative organizations, and both public and private sector entities.

The living weir, located in the midstream of the Wang Hip River, was constructed with a focus on sustainable water conservation. It utilizes ecosystem-based adaptation measurements and incorporates local community knowledge, combined with the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. The project also involves studying and developing a digital solution-based Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) diagnostic methodology to assess the impacts and benefits of living weirs (LWs). This initiative is a collaboration between Walailak University, the local community, local administrative organizations, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Germany. The project promotes the conservation of water resources by encouraging local communities to utilize the benefits of the living weir, while also studying its relevance to various dimensions, including:

1. River restoration and hydrological impacts.

2. Environmental and ecological impacts.

3. Social impacts and benefits, including the way of life and the community participation process.
The results of this project have shown that the living weir plays a significant role in conserving water resources, ecosystems, and the environment. It has proven beneficial in addressing climate change impacts, as it strengthens resilience and adaptability in water management through nature-based solutions. The weir helps conserve and store water, reduce the intensity of water flow in streams, and enhance biodiversity by providing habitats for aquatic animals. Additionally, it serves as a reliable water source for consumption and domestic use in the community. The project has ensured that the local population has sufficient water without negatively impacting the environment. This success has been achieved through collaboration among the community, local administrative organizations, and both public and private sector agencies.

Figures : The university is monitoring the progress of the Living Weir Development Project, which supports practical water conservation off campus in the community areas

The university also continues to support practical water conservation activities off campus by encouraging the use of innovations to benefit local communities and society. This aims to help farmers and local residents effectively plan and manage water resources in their areas. The goal is to prepare communities to become more resilient in facing droughts and water shortages, which are critical in enhancing the community’s capabilities. Additionally, the university fosters a culture of safety by empowering communities to handle disasters more effectively. This is achieved by encouraging community participation in disaster management processes at every stage—before, during, and after an incident—following the principles of Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM).

Figures : The university, led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Pakorn Ditthakit, has organized activities to support water conservation off campus.

Moreover, the university has integrated water conservation efforts off campus into the curriculum for Environmental Health students under the School of Public Health. These efforts involve field visits to target communities to collect data and provide education, raising awareness and understanding of the importance of water conservation. The initiative specifically focuses on the residents of Krung Ching Subdistrict, Nopphitam District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

Additionally, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pakorn Ditthakit, a faculty member of Walailak University, has served in several key roles, including 1) Subcommittee Member for Water Resource Management in Southern Thailand, 2) Expert Member on the Upper Eastern Southern Basin Committee, 3) Subcommittee Member for Water Resources of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. These roles support the management of soil and water conservation systems aimed at mitigating the impacts of floods and droughts, in alignment with the 20-Year Master Plan for Water Resource Management (2018-2037).

In 2023, various activities and workshops were organized by the Subcommittee for Water Resource Management in Southern Thailand to monitor the progress of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Flood Mitigation Project under the Royal Initiative. These activities also involved reviewing strategies for driving key projects for 2023–2024, as well as the trial implementation of a flood reporting application. Additionally, workshops were held by the Upper Eastern Southern Basin Committee and the Subcommittee for Water Resources of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province at the Sriprach Room, 3rd floor of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Hall. The objective was to enhance water resource management to prepare for droughts, dry spells, and floods, and ensure sufficient water supply for consumption in various southern communities in Thailand in 2023. Specific areas addressed included:

1. Water management in the Sathing Phra Peninsula and Songkhla Lake areas
2. Water security enhancement for consumption in the Thepha-Na Thawi Canal area
3. Flood mitigation project in the Surat Thani-Chaiya-Tapi area
4. Flood mitigation project in the Songkhla Lake area
5. Flood mitigation project in Chumphon- Lang Suan area
6. Drainage system project for Trang River, Trang Province
7. Water management project supporting tourism in Koh Samui area
8. Water management project supporting tourism in Phuket Province
9. Water management project in Satun City area
10. Water management project in the Songkhla Special Economic Zone
11. Riverbank improvement project for Golok River, Narathiwat Province
12. Flood mitigation project in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
13. Flood mitigation project in the areas surrounding Pattani City
14. Flood mitigation project in the Golok River Basin