For Those Living In Pattaya

[jacko 8,866]

I have been in my house for nearly 15 months now, and up to recently I had always been pleased that utilities seemed reliable. Banglamung Cable was useless so I switched to Sophon. That goes off for short spells fairly often, but is more reliable than its predecessor. My water supply had low pressure, but it filled the tank and my pump boosts it for the house. Electricity seemed to survive some spectacular storms!

 

The last month or 2 has been not so good. Electricity off a couple of times.... for long periods... not good for the fridge contents.

 

But the water... I think they are trying to improve the pressure and that is when the problems started. We have had 12 pipe bursts in the last month near the house, and I would say the water has been turned off for some time every day for the last 25. If it is not off due to a burst line in my street, there is something going on elsewhere requiring the isolation. They dig now in front of my house, slow arduous work with a pick and shovel. The other night we lent them a light and extension cord, and gave them a few bottles of beer as we found them more entertaining than Sophon at 2am!

 

I haven't been inconvenienced much, I don't use that much water. The storage tank has saved me, although I topped it with rain water a couple of times to get the pump to switch on. Flush the bog every other pee! We get the mains water on for a few hours each day. Can't complain about the workmen either, they are along pretty quick when I call to inform about the river flowing down the street. They seem to lack equipment, and putting small repair lengths into what is an old crumbling network seems to be ineffective. Their methodology of re-filling the hole before putting the water back on also confuses me. The street is beginning to look like a Beirut suburb near the Israel border!

 

Tonight my Sophon went off as I was about to watch the summary of condo jumpers, of course the water is still off. Cable is back on later, water, well who cares?

 

You have to wonder if they will ever get to grips with the infrastructure requirements of this rapidly expanding city.

Edited August 20, 2007 by jacko

[Gary 4,125]

I think the problem is that no one is accountable. There is always some way to lay the blame on others for substandard repairs. Nepotism, kick backs and shoddy materials all put together piecemeal are sure to fail. Companies that have completed big contracts normally go out of business and the same people who owned that company start a new company and receive new contracts to repair what the old defunct company fucked up to start with. I really don't see much hope until the government requires bonds and insurance to guarantee that projects meet specifications. How many times have you seen Beach Road torn up for one reason or another? No planning and no professionalism.

[Eneukman 1]

Infrastructure in Thailand? I never knew that such a thing existed.

 

They have been widening the road (Route 7) between Bangkok and Pattaya for ages and the last time I travelled to the new airport, the work doesn't seem to be any nearer competion.

 

Electricity - I saw something major blow on power lines on Theprassit Road some time ago, followed almost immediately afterwards by the power going off for some hours. I was on the internet not so long ago and heard a loud bang. On investigating, I could see a bright arc of light, which arose I believe from the transformer that serves View Talay 5C blowing up - and not for the first time! To be fair, the number of 12 hour plus power cuts seems to be on the decline, but whenever there is a thunderstorm, the lights flicker like mad.

 

Telephone/internet - My telephone line was down for 21 hours a week or so ago. It then came back on for three or four hours before failing again for a number of hours. TOT's internet service is a load of shit and totally unreliable

 

Sophon Cable - fails regularly for a few minutes on a regular basis. At times, it can be down for several hours.

 

Water - I think View Talay has their own supply ( ) so problems there apart from it being discoloured a couple of times.

 

Road repairs - After the work on Pratamnak Road just past the junction with South Pattaya Road, the road was supposed to have been tarmaced over by the end of June. It still hasn't been done resulting in your insides being jolted all over the place.

 

The new airport - lack of toilets, runways and taxiways needing repaired.

 

Despite all the above, I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

 

Alan

[BigDUSA 71]

I see all the new condos being built and I wonder where they are going to get the water, electricity and sewer capacity.

[fredcyber 0]

I just feel sorry for the workers. Crap equipment, inadequate materials and equipment, no concern for their safety and having to return to do the same job over and over again as a result.

 

What about the new local road which is supposed to finished by October and it is still a dirt track; or possibly that's what they mean by finished!!

[Eneukman 1]

I just feel sorry for the workers. Crap equipment, inadequate materials and equipment, no concern for their safety and having to return to do the same job over and over again as a result.

 

What about the new local road which is supposed to finished by October and it is still a dirt track; or possibly that's what they mean by finished!!

 

But did they say october 2007?

 

Alan

[jacko 8,866]

I just feel sorry for the workers. Crap equipment, inadequate materials and equipment, no concern for their safety and having to return to do the same job over and over again as a result.

 

What about the new local road which is supposed to finished by October and it is still a dirt track; or possibly that's what they mean by finished!!

Agreed, I joke with the workmen when they complete a repair.....'see you tomorrow'....

 

I took a look down the 'new road' last night, it is no longer flat and ready for surfacing. No sign of approaching tarmac as you look North down its length. I have to wonder how easy it will be to get from the 'dark side' to West Pattaya with 2 large roads and a railway line to cross.

Edited August 20, 2007 by jacko

[wacmedia 277]

I see all the new condos being built and I wonder where they are going to get the water, electricity and sewer capacity.

 

 

Hi,

 

You can be sure the Thai's have it all sussed out.

[Gary 4,125]

I see all the new condos being built and I wonder where they are going to get the water, electricity and sewer capacity.

 

 

You may be surprised. Or maybe not. I would wager that many of them will never be completed, they may not need too many more utilities than they are using now. Who's going to buy those overpriced units? What happens if most of the farang 49 percent sells out and the 51 percent is empty? A half empty complex cannot operate. There will be completed units with no electricity and no water because there will not be enough going into the maintenance fund to complete the hook ups. How do you justify paying 90,000 baht per square meter when there are resale units available for a third of that price? I'm not fond of shoe box high rise units to start with. Little things like fires and flimsy steel fire escapes bother me. Anything over two stories is a LONG way to jump.

[Obsession 571]

Who's going to buy those overpriced units?

Many buyers dont seem to engage their brain before investing They just compare prices to the west and throw their savings at it. Its a risky venture to buy offplan in los just now, but I think many are still doing it.