6.5.7 Promoting conscious water usage in the wider community
Metric: Water in the community
Actively promote conscious water usage in the wider community
Prince of Songkla University (PSU) actively promotes conscious and sustainable water usage beyond its campus through collaborative research and community-based projects aimed at improving local water resource management.
One key initiative is the “Guidelines for Developing Chimphlee Swamp as a Water Reserve to Reduce Flood and Drought Risks for Agriculture” in Choeng Sae Subdistrict, Krasae Sin District, Songkhla Province. This project aims to transform Chimphlee Swamp into a community water reserve that supports agricultural resilience and mitigates both flooding and drought impacts.
The initiative is a joint effort between Prince of Songkla University, the local Subdistrict Administrative Organization, the Office of Irrigation, and several government agencies, ensuring integration with national and regional water policies. PSU researchers and local stakeholders worked together to design a structured water storage and drainage system, emphasizing sustainable water management practices and community participation in planning and implementation.
Based on PSU’s hydrological assessment, excavating part of the swamp to match the current maximum peat swamp depth could increase water storage capacity by approximately 241,913 cubic meters without reducing the remaining wetland area. The proposed development area—located at the northern end near Thalaung Reun Bridge—comprises mixed land uses such as grasslands, shrubs, oil palm plantations, and village areas. Because much of this land is privately owned, the project also involves collaboration with landowners and local authorities to address land rights and management concerns.
Through this project, PSU demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable water resource management, community engagement, and capacity building for climate adaptation. By integrating academic expertise with local knowledge, the University fosters conscious water usage practices in the wider community, ensuring long-term water security and agricultural sustainability in Southern Thailand.
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