Water Quality on Pattaya/Jomtien Beaches

[pattjock]

Last week I took some water samples on Pattaya beach, roped of swimming area south of Central Mall and in Jomtien in the roped of swimming area opposite K-Bank.

 

The sample from Pattaya had 5 times the recommended amount of Total Coliform bacteria and 10 times the recommended amount of E. Coli bacteria.

 

The Sample from Jomtien Beach had no trace of Total Coliform or E. Coli bacteria.

 

NOTE: Only one sample was taken at each site at about 0.5m water depth. More samples should have been taken, at different depths and tides, to get a more representative readings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[potless]

31 minutes ago, pattjock said:

 

The sample from Pattaya had 5 times the recommended amount of Total Coliform bacteria and 10 times the recommended amount of E. Coli bacteria.

Its getting better then {sarc.}. I wouldnt go in the water at Jomtien either. Does anything bacteria wise get left on the sand when the tide goes out? Curious. How did you test the water?

[sotsira]

You only need to look at the murky brown colour of the water

to see how polluted it is.

Although it always amazes me how it still doesn't deter some

people to swim in it.

There should be signs put up to warn of the dangers alongside 

the ones about 'Smoke Free Beach"

[mahjongguy]

Please let us know how the testing was done. Where? How much per sample? Website?

[pattjock]

11 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

Please let us know how the testing was done. Where? How much per sample? Website?

The testing was done with 1ml sample in petri dishes counting the colonies of the different bacteria. The where is in the OP.

[mahjongguy]

I meant where as in what lab, hoping to hear that some lab in Pattaya offered such a service. But, it seems you have the skills and knowledge to do it yourself. Impressive.

[pattjock]

There are probably more qualified people to interpret the water test than me so I have attached pictures of the petrie dishes. The sample for each dish was 1ml and was cultured for 24 hours at 34 deg C.

 

Coliform is magenta and E.coli is blue/green.

 

I'm not sure what white dots are but they are probably another type of nasty things, much more in Jomtien than in Pattaya.

 

From my understanding the EPA limits for the green dots should be less than 1 and for the magenta less than 2.

 

The test kit can be bought from Lazada:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/1-i287820948-s471494953.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.45.38cc945dgKSjQd&search=1

 

12 tests for 1200Baht

 

 

 

[mahjongguy]

Excellent response. Thank you.

[thinkingman]

What did you use to incubate to 34 degrees. I have a batch of test kits, but the incubation requirement threw me.

[pattjock]

1 hour ago, thinkingman said:

What did you use to incubate to 34 degrees. I have a batch of test kits, but the incubation requirement threw me.

I just put it in the oven on the lowest setting and kept the door ajar.