ScaleWat: scaling up capacities for responsible governance of water tenure

 Thailand

In Thailand, ScaleWat is working  closely with the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) to advance ambitions for equitable water tenure governance amid growing climate and development pressures.  

Since the project launch in October 2024, field activities began with a thorough water tenure assessment in the Prasae River Basin — a pilot area chosen to explore how water rights and management practices actually play out in local communities.  

As part of the assessment, FAO experts and Rayong-level ONWR staff, have conducted field visits and technical studies in four sub-basins. These studies have analyzed  water balance, legal frameworks, and water access and use arrangements of stakeholders,    providing insights into institutional coordination, participation of farmers and local users, and mechanisms to recognize customary water-rights holders. Findings from the Prasae River Basin will inform the Global Dialogue on Water Tenure, providing real-world examples of how inclusive governance can be achieved  with policy improvement. 

Capacity development. ScaleWat and ONWR have organized national workshops and training sessions for government agencies, water user organizations, and universities. These trainings translated insights from the assessments into tangible tools and action points for better water management.  

 

Pilot area

The Prasae River Basin is located in Rayong province in the eastern part of Thailand. The Prasae reservoir in the basin is an important water source to many sectors. including drinking water, industrial and agricultural sectors, aquaculture and tourism. Part of its water is diverted to the Ecstern Economic Zone, an important industrial estate. The Praesae river supports diverse ecosystems: freshwater ecosystems in the main river, brackish water ecosystems in the lower part of the river, and marine ecosystems in the estuary. 

Partners

  • ONWR 
  • Royal Irrigation Department 
  • Department of Water Resources of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment 
  • Provincial Waterworks Authority 
  • Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand 
  • Hydro-Informatics Institute. 

 

Key publications
Country updates
24/02/2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Office of the National Water Resources of Thailand (ONWR) co-hosted a two-day training on the use of FAO's 

The ScaleWat project team, members of ONWR and community members from Bothong sub-district pose for a photo following a field visit.
27/10/2025

Following the successful National Validation Meeting held in Bangkok, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) of Thailand travelled to Rayong for the project’s Basin Validation Meeting, an essential step of the wat...

03/10/2025
The Pasak River is vital for agriculture, aquaculture, industry, and household use. Water authorities need to utilise water supply for ranges of ecological conversations and hydrological functions within and beyond the Basin’s region. But increasing demand and climate-related droughts have placed growing pressure on the basin’s resources.
30/09/2025

A new study by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) shows how farmers, industry and local authorities in Thailand’s Pasak River Basin are managing competing water needs, with opportunities for stronger collaboration.

While water is more abundant upstream, farmers in the lower river ...