Water Management
The global water cycle is currently facing severe imbalance due to overconsumption and poor management. According to the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, over 1,000 children under the age of five die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water and inadequate sanitation. Women and girls spend more than 200 million hours per day walking and collecting water. At the same time, the global food system is suffering from freshwater shortages, and cities are subsiding due to depleted groundwater levels.
Alarmingly, the water crisis—while a consequence of climate change—has also become a major driver of further climate change and biodiversity loss. This is evidenced by decreasing soil moisture, the collapse of freshwater ecosystems, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts, floods, heatwaves, and wildfires around the world.
Thailand is facing a complex water crisis involving issues of quantity, quality, and unequal access. According to The Water Project, while Thailand receives average annual rainfall, the distribution of water is uneven, causing drought in many areas. In rural regions, many communities still lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation infrastructure. Additionally, many water sources are contaminated by domestic waste, agricultural chemicals, and industrial activities, posing direct risks to public health. Urban and industrial growth continues to drive up water demand, while existing water infrastructure is unable to meet these rising needs.
As a company committed to sustainable development, Principal Capital Public Company Limited recognizes the importance of water as a vital natural resource for life—and as the backbone of the healthcare system. Responsible and mindful use of water is therefore a key policy that guides our business practices.
The company has established a comprehensive water management approach that encompasses water use, conservation, and wastewater management. We have set clear qualitative and quantitative targets to minimize environmental impact and enhance operational efficiency.
Key Approaches and Commitments
Water Stewardship Commitment
As an organization committed to sustainable business practices and recognizing water as a vital natural resource essential to life, health, and public healthcare systems, Principal Capital Public Company Limited makes the following pledges for responsible water management:
- We will monitor and ensure that all water management comply with applicable laws, regulations, and relevant requirements
- We commit to continuously implementing measures to reduce water consumption and improve water-use efficiency across all organizational activities.
- We will invest in water-saving technologies, equipment, and innovations, and promote the reuse of water in appropriate processes.
- We will collect and monitor water usage data from all operational sites to support analysis, planning, and the development of effective water management measures.
- We will prioritize areas with high levels of water stress by adopting proactive strategies and tailored plans to manage associated risks.
- We will raise awareness among employees, partners, and stakeholders to encourage the responsible and conscious use of water resources.
We firmly believe that sustainable water management not only helps mitigate environmental impacts but also plays a critical role in enhancing service quality and strengthening trust among our clients and the wider community in the long term.
Overall Water Management Targets
- Install water reuse systems in all hospitals by 2030.
- Ensure that the design of all new buildings in the network incorporates water conservation principles by using efficient sanitary ware and plumbing systems.
- Promote the retrofitting of existing buildings by assessing and improving equipment or water usage practices to enhance efficiency and reduce water loss.
- Promote sustainable water use awareness among employees.
- Improve water-use efficiency by reducing the average water consumption/water withdrawal per patient (cubic meters/person/year) by 10% compared to the baseline year.
- Increase the proportion of reused/recycled water to at least 10% of total water use by 2030.
Targets for Water-Stressed Areas
- Implement a monthly water usage monitoring and reporting system in hospitals located in high-risk water stress areas.
- Install water-saving devices, such as sensor taps and low-flow sanitary ware, in at least 30% of facilities located in High and Extremely High water-stressed areas by 2030.
- Introduce water treatment and reuse systems in at least 7 hospitals located in High and Extremely High areas by 2027.
- Conduct continuous training on sustainable water use for 100% of building maintenance staff.
- Reduce the average water consumption/water withdrawal per patient (cubic meters/person/year) in High and Extremely High water-stressed areas by at least 10% by 2030, compared to the 2023 baseline.
Company’s Water Management Plan
The company has established a system to collect and monitor water usage data from all operational sites, enabling continuous analysis and improvement of water-use efficiency. This is particularly critical for healthcare facilities, which are required by law to comply with wastewater treatment regulations. All hospitals under the company’s network regularly monitor key water quality parameters. If any irregularities are detected, immediate investigations and corrective actions are taken. In addition, personnel are trained to manage water pollution control systems in accordance with applicable standards.
Assessment of Water Stress Areas
Principal Capital Public Company Limited has assessed the water stress levels of areas where its hospitals are located, using globally recognized data from the WRI Aqueduct platform. This assessment supports effective planning to reduce water consumption in areas with limited resources. The assessment results show that the company’s hospitals are located in areas with varying degrees of water stress:
- Princ Hospital Paknampo 1, Nakhon Sawan Province
- Princ Hospital Paknampo 2, Nakhon Sawan Province
- Princ Hospital Uthai Thani, Uthai Thani Province
- Princ Hospital Lamphun, Lamphun Province
- Sirivej Lamphun Hospital, Lamphun Province
- Princ Hospital Sisaket, Sisaket Province
- Princ Hospital Suvarnabhumi, Samut Prakan Province
- Pitsanuvej Hospital, Phitsanulok Province
- Pitsanuvej Phichit Hospital, Phichit Province
- Pitsanuvej Uttaradit Hospital, Uttaradit Province
- Ruampat Phitsanulok Hospital, Phitsanulok Province
* In 2025, the company expanded its hospital operations to include a new facility in Kamphaeng Phet Province.
- Virajsilp Hospital, Chumphon Province
* In 2025, the company expanded its hospital operations to include a new facility in Kanchanaburi Province.
- Princ Hospital Ubon Ratchathani, Ubon Ratchathani Province
- Princ Hospital Sakon Nakhon, Sakon Nakhon Province
- Princ Hospital Mukdahan, Mukdahan Province
Performance Over the Past 3 Years
Company Water Usage by Source
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals within the network | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Total water withdrawal (cubic meters) | 277,711.00 | 435,375.00 | 450,077.40 |
| Total water withdrawn from municipal supply or other external organizations (cubic meters) | 277,711.00 | 349,705.00 | 349,705.00 |
| Total groundwater withdrawn (cubic meters) | N/A | 85,670.00 | 76,141.40 |
| Number of Patients (person/year) | 1,101,822 | 855,467 | 959,976 |
|
Total water withdrawal per patient (cubic meters/person/year)
* Target Reduce average water withdrawal per patient by 10% from the 2023 baseline. |
N/A (Groundwater data not yet collected) | 0.51 | 0.47 (-7.88%) |
Company Wastewater by Discharge Source
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals within the network | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| % Treated Wastewater (cubic meters) | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| Total Wastewater (cubic meters) | 222,168.80 | 347,783.00 | 359,698.92 |
| Discharged to Surface Water (cubic meters) | 222,168.80 | 347,783.00 | 359,698.92 |
Company Water Usage
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals within the network | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Net Water Consumption (cubic meters) | 55,542.20 | 87,592.00 | 90,378.48 |
Water Usage in Hospitals Located in Extremely High Water Stress Areas by Source
| 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals located in extremely high water stress areas | 5 | 5 |
| Total water withdrawal (cubic meters) | 123,047 | 135,340 |
| Total water withdrawn from municipal supply or other external organizations (cubic meters) | 96,194 | 113,544 |
| Total groundwater withdrawn (cubic meters) | 26,853 | 21,796 |
| Number of Patients (person/year) | 254,313 | 277,110 |
|
Total water withdrawal per patient (cubic meters/person/year)
* Target Reduce average water use per patient in Extremely High water stress areas by at least 10% by 2030 compared to the 2023 baseline. |
0.48 | 0.49 (+0.94%) |
Water Usage in Hospitals Located in High Water Stress Areas by Source
| 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals located in high water stress areas | 6 | 6 |
| Total water withdrawal (cubic meters) | 238,591 | 243,107.40 |
| Total water withdrawn from municipal supply or other external organizations (cubic meters) | 179,774 | 188,762 |
| Total groundwater withdrawn (cubic meters) | 58,817 | 54,345.40 |
| Number of Patients (person/year) | 477,087 | 542,317 |
|
Total water withdrawal per patient (cubic meters/person/year)
* Target Reduce average water use per patient in High water stress areas by at least 10% by 2030 compared to the 2023 baseline. |
0.50 | 0.45 (-10.36%) |
Water Usage in Hospitals Located in Medium–High Water Stress Areas by Source
| 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals located in medium-high water stress areas | 1 | 1 |
| Total water withdrawal (cubic meters) | 50,417 | 39,600 |
| Total water withdrawn from municipal supply or other external organizations (cubic meters) | 50,417 | 39,600 |
| Number of Patients (person/year) | 65,468 | 69,149 |
| Total water withdrawal per patient (cubic meters/person/year) | 0.77 | 0.57 (-25.64%) |
Water Usage in Hospitals Located in Low Water Stress Areas by Source
| 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals located in low water stress areas | 2 | 3 |
| Total water withdrawal (cubic meters) | 23,320 | 32,030 |
| Total water withdrawn from municipal supply or other external organizations (cubic meters) | 23,320 | 32,030 |
| Number of Patients (person/year) | 58,599 | 71,400 |
| Total water withdrawal per patient (cubic meters/person/year) | 0.40 | 0.45 (+12.73%) |
Recycled Water Usage
| Target | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals using recycled water | All hospitals by 2030 | 3 of 12 hospitals | 4 of 14 hospitals | 4 of 15 hospitals |
| Volume of recycled water (cubic meters) | - | 366 | 517 | 363 (decrease due to equipment malfunction) |
| Proportion of reused/recycled water to total water use (%) | ≥10% of total water use by 2030 (baseline year: 2023) | N/A (groundwater data not yet collected) | 0.11 | 0.08 |
| Number of hospitals using recycled water in High and Extremely High water stress areas | At least 7 hospitals by 2027 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Water-Related Expenditures
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitals within the network | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Total Water Expense (THB) | 6,033,074.32 | 8,143,624.61 | 8,624,282.00 |
| Municipal/Third-Party Water Expense (THB) | 6,033,074.32 | 8,143,624.61 | 8,624,282.00 |
| % of Total Operating Expense | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.14 |
| % of Total Revenue | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.15 |
| Expense per Employee (THB/person/year) | 2,035.45 | 2,076.40 | 2,073.64 |
Other Key Performance Indicators
| Indicator | Target | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of hospitals with a water management plan | 100% of hospitals | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| % of hospitals with complete wastewater monitoring and treatment systems | 100% of hospitals | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Number of non-compliance incidents related to water quality/quantity regulations | 0 incidents | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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