Koh Samui Water Rationing Began on 3 August 2026

Koh Samui started rotating tap water supply on 3 August 2026 after drought cut production to less than half of daily demand.

Tap water on Koh Samui has been supplied on a rotating schedule since 3 August 2026. The Samui branch of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) announced the measure at the end of July, after drought reduced the amount of raw water reaching the island. ASEAN NOW, which reported the announcement, said production had fallen to about 16,000 cubic metres per day while average demand is about 34,000 cubic metres.

The gap between supply and demand

On those figures the island was short of roughly 18,000 cubic metres of water every day, more than half of what it normally uses. The report explains that the cause was drought. Raw-water levels in the system that feeds the pipeline from the mainland dropped below the level needed for normal operation.

Koh Samui also has seawater reverse osmosis plants, which turn seawater into fresh water. According to the report, these plants help but cannot cover the island's full demand on their own.

How the rotation works

The PWA divided its service area into two groups, described in the report as a yellow zone and a red-green zone. Water is sent to each group in turn on a seven-day rotating schedule. When the article was last updated on 4 August 2026, no end date had been confirmed.

The authority asked households and businesses to store water during the periods when their zone is supplied and to reduce use where they can.

Effects reported on the island

ASEAN NOW reported that some communities already had weak pressure, or no running water for several days in a row, before the schedule began. Residents in those areas were buying water from private tanker operators at extra cost.

The report also noted concern in the tourism sector. Hotels, resorts and restaurants face higher operating costs when they have to buy water by truck, and businesses worry about what visitors will think if supply problems continue.

This article reports the situation described by the source in early August 2026; owners should check current PWA notices for their own area.

What it means for villa owners

For a rental villa, water is a basic service that guests expect without interruption. In practice that means three things:

Know which PWA zone the villa is in and on which days it receives supply.
Check that the storage tank and pump are large enough for a full house and a pool top-up, and that they are clean and working.
Have a reliable water truck contact, and budget for deliveries in dry months.

Small steps also help, such as fixing leaks quickly, checking the pool for water loss and asking garden staff to water early in the morning. Owners who live abroad usually rely on their manager to follow this day by day. If you would like to see how this is handled in a managed property, read our page on villa management in Koh Samui.