Ko Lipe water crisis prompts Ombudsman-led review

2026-02-24 - 03:43

SATUN — 23 February 2026, Ko Lipe is marketed worldwide as a tropical paradise of emerald waters and powdery white sand. But behind the façade of luxury resorts, the island’s indigenous Urak Lawoi community continues to grapple with chronic infrastructure shortages that have persisted for decades. Once a quiet island, Ko Lipe has seen rapid commercial growth. Basic utilities, however, have lagged behind. Mounting garbage, high electricity costs and recurring water shortages have steadily eroded residents’ quality of life. Water shortages Sornnat Hantalay, 22, a representative of the Urak Lawoi community, said water scarcity remains the most pressing problem. “During the rainy season, floodwater seeps into village wells, leaving the water undrinkable. In the dry season, the island’s three community wells run dry because they cannot support the growing population,” he said. “We have to take boats through rough seas to bring water from Ko Adang. If authorities can ensure a sufficient water supply, it would ease our hardship.” Residents also face electricity rates several times higher than on the mainland, along with a waste management system that has yet to find a sustainable solution. Project delays Following complaints raised to central authorities, Songsak Saicheua, president of the Office of the Ombudsman, led a multi-agency delegation to the island on 23 February to review progress on long-delayed public utility projects. The delegation included officials from the Office of the National Water Resources, Satun provincial authorities and Tarutao National Park, as well as representatives from water and electricity agencies. An inspection of proposed sites for submarine power cables and a raw water pipeline linking Ko Lipe to Ko Adang found that previous delays stemmed largely from overlapping land-use restrictions and technical requirements to minimise environmental impact. Ko Lipe covers about 3 square kilometres (1,875 rai) and has 1,387 registered residents in 702 households. The island, however, receives between 150,000 and 200,000 visitors annually. Solid waste averages 10–11 tonnes per day from households, businesses and marine debris. In 2025, accumulated waste exceeded 3,000 tonnes. The Koh Sarai Subdistrict Administrative Organisation spends about 7 million baht annually to hire private contractors to transport and dispose of waste on the mainland, amid the absence of a permanent public transport route. Three-pronged plan Songsak said the current plan is clearer than previous proposals and will proceed on three fronts: Electricity and water systems: A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Department of National Parks, the Provincial Electricity Authority and the Provincial Waterworks Authority to allow the laying of submarine cables and a raw water pipeline from Ko Adang. The package is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet, with tangible progress projected in fiscal years 2028–2029. One-stop service centre: More than 3 rai (about 4,800 square metres) within the national park will be reorganised to consolidate immigration and tourist service offices in one location to improve order and ease marine traffic congestion. Waste management and healthcare: Authorities are seeking a permanent public route for transporting waste to the mainland and upgrading the Ko Lipe health promotion hospital to better serve residents and tourists. Songsak said the visit marked not just a routine inspection but a step toward resolving long-standing shortages. For residents, the success of the proposed projects will be measured not in policy documents but in running taps, stable electricity and cleaner shorelines. Whether Ko Lipe can sustain its booming tourism industry may depend on how quickly those promises are delivered.