The update was delivered at the 4th/2026 meeting of Phuket’s Joint Public-Private Sector Committee (JPC) at Provincial Hall last week chaired by Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn.
Officials from the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) Phuket Branch told the meeting that Phase 1 of the Phang Nga-Phuket expansion project is now 8.20% complete, placing it 2.73% ahead of schedule.
However, the progress relates only to the current construction phase, which began on Dec 6, 2025, and was scheduled to run through to last Thursday (Apr 23).
The project itself has been under discussion for years.
As previously reported, the pipeline has been tabled for nearly a decade and was confirmed as stalled in 2020 despite having already received Cabinet approval. It was only revived in 2024, with ministers ordering that the long-awaited scheme be brought online by 2027.
During an August 2024 visit to Phuket, then-Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Chakkraphong Saengmanee stressed the urgency of completing the Phang Nga-Phuket water-supply expansion within three years, highlighting chronic water shortages on the island.
At the time, officials acknowledged that Phuket’s existing raw water sources were insufficient to meet growing demand, with gaps in network coverage and ageing infrastructure compounding the problem.
Despite those directives, the current construction schedule now extends into 2028.
RISING DEMAND, PERSISTENT LOSSES
According to the latest update, the project will draw raw water from the Phang Nga Canal to a treatment plant in Phang Nga, producing up to 72,000 cubic metres of tap water per day.
Treated water will then be piped under the Sarasin Bridge to Phuket, feeding a new distribution system in Mai Khao supported by pumping stations, storage tanks and extended pipeline networks.
The expansion is expected to supply water to 20,000 additional households.
At present, the PWA Phuket Branch serves 76,786 households, with daily demand recorded at 73,796 cubic metres.
While total production capacity stands at 91,200 cubic metres per day, officials acknowledged that water loss remains high at about 40% ‒ a longstanding issue that continues to undermine supply efficiency.
Demand is forecast to outstrip capacity within the next decade. By 2033, household connections are expected to rise to more than 100,000, with water demand reaching 102,050 cubic metres per day.
Without expansion, Phuket is projected to face a daily shortfall of more than 10,850 cubic metres.
STILL IN PROGRESS
The Phang Nga-Phuket pipeline has long been positioned as a key solution to the island’s recurring water shortages, which have affected both residents and the tourism sector, particularly during dry seasons.
Earlier plans envisioned significantly higher production capacity and wider coverage across Thalang, Kathu and Mueang districts, forming part of a broader national water management strategy.
The current Phase 1 project covers areas in Phang Nga’s Mueang and Takua Thung districts and Phuket’s Thalang District.
The construction contract was awarded to Wong Siam Construction Co., Ltd. at B3.25bn after submitting the lowest qualifying bid. The contract was signed on Nov 20, 2025.
While officials now report the works are progressing smoothly, the broader timeline underscores the long road the project has taken ‒ from years of delays to its current “ahead of schedule” status under a newly formalised construction plan.