“Because water is life” – This clearly reflects the paramount importance of water. Whether it be humans, animals, or plants, none can survive without it. Water is not only a primary component of living organisms but also a vital resource that sustains the ecosystem and people’s way of life in all aspects.
However, at times, water can become the source of hardship, such as the flood event in August 2024. Ban Pha Lae village, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai Province, one of the communities severely affected by flash floods. Agricultural areas and the village’s water pipeline system suffered extensive damage, leaving all 119 households, or over 300 people, facing an urgent shortage of water for consumption.
Pornthep Rungsaeng-ngam, the village headman of Ban Pha Lae, says, “During the flooding last year, our community was affected twice, on August 12 and 21, 2024. Besides the damage to agricultural areas, the village’s water supply system was also severely impacted. Because our community relies on the mountain water supply system for consumption, the flash floods that inundated the village caused the water pipelines to break and become unusable.“
Recognising this fundamental necessity, World Vision Thailand has implemented a flood recovery intervention under the “HSBC Thailand Flood Relief Donation 2024 Project,” funded by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC). This initiative involves providing a set of water pipe equipment along with six 2,000-litre water storage tanks, aiming to enable the community to efficiently repair and improve their community water supply system, allowing the villagers to once again have a sufficient supply of water for consumption.
In implementing this project, World Vision Thailand has ensured community participation in every step, from surveying the damage and carrying out repairs to the maintenance of the water supply system. This approach aims to empower the community to have continuous and sustainable access to water for consumption.
“On behalf of the community, I would like to thank the donor for recognising the needs of the villagers in this community. The water system supported through this project is very beneficial to the villagers because the Mae Nam Ngao check dam, which is another source from where we pump water for use, was also damaged by the floods and has not yet been repaired. Without this mountain water source, the villagers would face great hardship,” concludes the village headman of Ban Pha Lae.
The implementation of this project reflects the strong collaboration between World Vision Thailand and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (Public Company) in developing and improving the quality of life for people in remote areas affected by disasters. It also supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
