General
Department of Water Resources Launches Community Water Management Initiatives in Mae Chaem
The Department of Water Resources has established new water user groups and provided educational training in the Mae Chaem district of Chiang Mai province.
On September 18, 2026, the Department of Water Resources, through its Office of Water Resources Region 1, announced the implementation of new community-based water management projects. These initiatives were conducted in the Ban Huai Rin and Ban Mae Yang San areas, located within the Tha Pha and Chang Khoeng sub-districts of Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai.
The primary objective of these programs is to formally establish water user groups and provide essential training to local residents. By organizing these groups, the department aims to improve the sustainable management and distribution of water resources within these specific land allocation areas (KThCh).
For residents and those living in the Mae Chaem region, these developments represent an effort to formalize local water governance, which may lead to more structured access to water for agricultural and domestic use. For travelers visiting the area, these projects highlight ongoing efforts to manage natural resources in rural northern Thailand.
At this stage, specific details regarding the long-term operational impact of these water user groups or potential changes to local water access regulations remain to be confirmed. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor official updates from the Department of Water Resources for further information on how these initiatives will evolve.