Most Thai houses have an electric pump, often with a storage tank, because the public mains pressure is too low or too uneven to reach every tap. When the water goes weak or stops, the cause is usually the pump, the tank or the mains supply; call the waterworks for the mains (MWA 1125 in the Bangkok area, PWA 1662 elsewhere) and a plumber or your landlord for anything inside the property.
The setup surprises many newcomers: a squat blue or white machine by the gate, a large plastic or steel tank, and a click and hum every time someone opens a tap. It works well when it is looked after, and it is the first thing to check when the shower turns to a trickle. This page explains how the system fits together and who to call. It does not give repair instructions: pumps combine water and mains electricity, which is work for a qualified plumber or electrician.
Water at home: who to call (October 2026)
- Mains water, Bangkok area
- Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), Call Center 1125, 24 hours
- Mains water, rest of Thailand
- Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA), hotline 1662
- Pump, tank, pipes in the property
- Your landlord or juristic office; otherwise a plumber
- Electrical fault at the pump
- A licensed electrician
- Power cut
- MEA 1130 (Bangkok area), PEA 1129 (elsewhere)
- PWA price, first 10 m³
- 10.20 baht per m³ (residential, before VAT and fees)
Why Thai houses have a pump and a tank
Public water reaches homes through the mains at whatever pressure the local network has, which can drop at busy times of day, in the dry season or at the end of a long pipe. A house pump boosts that pressure so that upstairs showers and water heaters work. A storage tank adds a reserve: the mains fills the tank slowly, and the pump draws from it, so the house keeps water during a short interruption of the supply.
In a condo the same job is done at building scale. Water is usually stored and pumped to the upper floors by the building's own system, which the juristic office maintains. If one unit has low pressure, the problem may be inside the unit; if a whole floor or the whole building does, it is the building's system or the mains, not yours.
Because the pump is electric, a power cut stops the water too. Our guide to power cuts covers outages and what else stops when the power goes.
MWA or PWA: who supplies your water
Two state enterprises supply piped water. The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) serves Bangkok and, as is generally understood, the two neighboring provinces of Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan; its Call Center is 1125, open 24 hours. The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) serves the rest of the country and has the hotline 1662. Your water bill shows which one you have.
Call them when the problem is outside your property: no water at the meter, a burst pipe in the street, dirty water from the mains, or a planned interruption you want to know about. Some areas, especially in the countryside, are not on either network and depend on a well or a local village supply.
What usually goes wrong, and who fixes it
You can observe a lot without opening anything. These are common symptoms and the questions to put to the plumber or landlord:
| What you notice | Possible causes to have checked | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| No water anywhere, pump silent | Power cut, tripped breaker, failed motor or pressure switch | Check the breaker; then electrician or plumber |
| Pump runs but little or no water comes | Empty tank, mains supply off, air in the pump, blocked intake | Check whether neighbors have mains water; then plumber |
| Pump switches on and off every few minutes, even at night | A leak somewhere, a running toilet, a faulty pressure tank or switch | Plumber |
| Weak pressure on upper floors only | Pump too small, partly blocked pipes or filters | Plumber |
| Whole condo floor has low pressure | Building pump or tank | Juristic office |
| Brown or cloudy water | Mains work nearby, a dirty tank | MWA or PWA; landlord for tank cleaning |
Checking the breaker is as far as a tenant should go. If the pump's breaker has tripped, you may reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call an electrician: a pump that keeps tripping the power may have a fault that can make its casing or the water pipes live. Never open the pump's cover or touch wiring near water.
Our guide to shower water heaters explains earth-leakage breakers, which protect against the same kind of fault, and why a licensed electrician should check them.
Renting: whose job is the pump?
In a rented house the pump, the tank and the pipes are part of the property, and repairs that are not caused by the tenant are normally the owner's responsibility. Our guide to renting a condo or house explains the 2025 rental rules, including wear and tear, and what to write in the lease. Report a fault in writing, with a photo or video of the problem, and agree who will call the plumber before anyone does.
When you view a house, ask how old the pump is, when the tank was last cleaned and whether there is a backup if the pump fails. Turn on a tap upstairs while you are there and listen: a pump that starts and stops constantly while all taps are closed is worth asking about before you sign.
The water bill and the meter as a leak detector
Water is cheap in Thailand. At PWA's residential rates, the first 10 cubic meters cost 10.20 baht each, and 20 cubic meters a month comes to about 262 baht before VAT and fees. MWA has its own tariff, which we could not read in October 2026. A bill that suddenly doubles usually points to a leak or a pump running all the time.
The meter can tell you. Close every tap in the house, make sure nobody uses water, and note the meter reading or watch its small dial. If it keeps moving, water is escaping somewhere between the meter and the taps: a leak in a buried pipe, an overflowing tank or a toilet cistern that never stops filling. That is a job for a plumber, and in a rental, a matter to report to the landlord at once. In a condo, a leak can also damage the unit below; our guide to contents and liability insurance explains who pays. For budgeting all the utility bills, see our page on the cost of living for residents.
Write down the meter reading on the day you move in. Take a photo of the water and electricity meters with the date. It settles the first bill and gives you a baseline if you later suspect a leak.
Well water and tanks in rural areas
Outside the towns, some houses draw water from a well with a pump, store it in a tank, and may have no mains connection at all. Well water quality varies with the location and the season, so do not drink it, or use it for cooking, until it has been tested and you know what treatment it needs. Our article on tap water for cooking and brushing teeth covers drinking water in general.
Tanks of any kind collect sediment and need cleaning from time to time; ask your landlord how often it is done. Keep the lid closed: an open tank breeds mosquitoes, and our page on dengue fever explains why standing water near the house matters.
When the water stops: a short plan
- Check whether the power is on and whether the pump's breaker has tripped.
- Ask a neighbor whether they have water. If not, it is the mains: call MWA on 1125 or PWA on 1662.
- If the mains is fine, call your landlord, the juristic office or a plumber.
- Keep drinking water and a full bucket for flushing until it is fixed.
More guides for running a home in Thailand are on our living in Thailand hub, including preparing for floods, when pumps and tanks can be damaged.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my water pump keep turning on at night?
A pump that starts every few minutes with all taps closed usually means water is escaping somewhere, such as a running toilet or a leaking pipe, or that the pump's pressure tank or switch has a fault. Ask a plumber to check it; in a rental, report it to the landlord.
Who do I call when there is no water in Bangkok?
If neighbors have no water either, call the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority on 1125, which is open 24 hours. If only your home is affected, the problem is likely the pump, tank or pipes, which is a job for your landlord, the condo office or a plumber.
Who is responsible for fixing the water pump in a rented house?
Normally the owner, unless the tenant caused the damage. Report the fault in writing with a photo or video and agree with the landlord who calls the plumber. Check your lease, and see our renting guide for the national rules on repairs and wear.
Is low water pressure in a Thai condo my problem or the building's?
If your neighbors on the same floor also have low pressure, it is usually the building's pumps or tanks, which the juristic office maintains. If only your unit is affected, the cause is more likely inside the unit, such as a blocked filter or a faulty valve.
Sources
- Metropolitan Waterworks Authority – Home page and 1125 Call Center (checked October 2026)
- Provincial Waterworks Authority – Home page and 1662 hotline (Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Provincial Waterworks Authority – Water tariff table (Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Provincial Electricity Authority – Home page (checked October 2026)