Polluted River Water Reaches Bangkok

[george]

CHAO PHYA SPILL

Polluted river water reaches city

Dilution reduces toxic effect; fish farmers want plant in Angthong shut

BANGKOK: -- Pollution in The Chao Phya River, which killed tens of thousands of fish on Sunday night in Angthong and Ayutthaya, reached Greater Bangkok yesterday with the authorities urging people not to use it.

Royal Irrigation Department (RID) spokesman Boonsanong Suchatpong yesterday said the situation was "getting back to normal" in Angthong, Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani, where dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the water were now above three milligrams per litre, which would enabled river life to survive.

When the polluted water from Angthong reached Ayutthaya on Tuesday, the governor declared Bang Ban, Bang Pa-in, Phra Nakhon, Si Ayutthaya and Bang Sai districts "disaster zones".

The contaminated water arrived in Nonthaburi yesterday afternoon - causing the DO levels in the Pak Kred district to drop to 2.93 mg/l - and reached Bangkok last night.

By then the water had been heavily diluted as the RID released more water from Pasak Cholasit and Rama VI dams at 90 cubic metres per second, said Boonsanong, who urged city residents to use tap water instead of river water.

Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) governor Vithit Avuchanont said the MWA received calls from worried city residents and wanted to confirm that the low DO levels in the Chao Phya would not affect the MWA's capacity to produce clean tap water.

The water at the Pathum Thani's Sam Lae pumping station was of "good quality" with DO levels of 4.5 mg/l to 4.7 mg/l, he said. As precaution, the MWA has temporarily closed the sluice gates and could still use water in the MWA channels to meet people's needs, he added.

Angthong governor Wiboon Sanguanphong met Ayutthaya governor Cherdphan na Songkhla, other officials and farming

representatives yesterday to discuss ways to determine the source of the pollution.

It is believed to have come from either a factory or from a boat carrying sugar that sank over a week ago.

The meeting gave less weight to the sunken boat carrying 650 tonnes of sugar because the sugar was removed after the accident and what little remained would have been insufficient to cause the contamination.

Angthong governor Wiboon said fish farmers would receive compensation of Bt257 per square metre - up to 80 square metres per case - in accordance with the Fisheries Department regulations.

The province will also help them file criminal and civil lawsuits against the offender and Angthong attorney Apichat Thananchaya has prepared pro-bono lawyers for the affected farmers, the governor said.

Boonrod Pramuansukhom, 47, who was among the 100 farmers at the meeting, said no clear conclusions had been drawn and if it remained unsolved, villagers would go to Bangkok to "request justice" from the Prime Minister.

The fish farmer said he believed a monosodium glutamate factory belonging to KTMSG in Pa Moke district, where farmers dumped dead fish during a rally on Tuesday, was the suspected culprit and urged the authorities to inspect the plant's wastewater system.

However, KTMSG executive Wichai Sutthilertworakul denied the allegation, claiming the factory never discharged contaminated water into the river.

He said pipes linked to the river were to pump water in for the factory's use - and not to discharge wastewater into the river as alleged.

The protest at the factory turned ugly last night when demonstrators blocked the entrance preventing a deputy governor, members of the media and some senior civil servants visiting the plant, from leaving.

Farmers were demanding the temporary closure of the factory pending the pollution investigation's results and insisted that Angthong's governor sign the closure order in front of them, before they would agree to disperse.

Wiboon could not be reached for a comment when The Nation went to press.

Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Veterinary Science deputy dean Jennuch Wongtawatchai said an initial test found that the massive loss of fish did not come from an infection.

--TNA 2007-03-15

[Martin]

"It could go wrong, so it did go wrong" is sure to be the final epitaph for this disaster.

[Jamie]

I take it the regulatory agencies there are quite lax. If a company discharged waste in to a public waterway, it can be tracked via discharge logs. Surely point sources need to be permitted there like in most countries.

[h90]

I take it the regulatory agencies there are quite lax. If a company discharged waste in to a public waterway, it can be tracked via discharge logs. Surely point sources need to be permitted there like in most countries.

Discharge Log????

Somchai get rid of that dirt. OK, lets open the valve.....

Where is the discharge log???

Worked in a company in Europe, and the man who take care of waste told me "High water level (snow melt/heavy rain) is the christmas for the waste-manager." You don't make logs about such things.....

[Jai Dee]

Deputy Minister of Industry says cause of Chao Phraya pollution to be revealed soon

The Deputy Minister of Industry said that the cause of stagnant and putrid water in the Chao Phraya River would be revealed tomorrow (March 16).

Deputy Minister of Industry Piyabuth Cholwicharn (ปิยะบุตร ชลวิจารณ์) revealed progress of investigations into putrid waters in the Chao Phraya River in Ayuddhya province is proceeding well. Mr. Piyabuth report that authoritites are attempting to determin whether industrial waste from 3 local factories, or a boat carrying sugar byproducts which capsized in the river are to blame for the condition.

The Deputy Minister of Industry stated further that water samples have been sent for laboratory testing and results would be confirmed by March 16. Mr. Piyabuth said that authorities would investigate reports of a local MSG factory which residents alleged released waste water into the Chao Phraya River. He said that if the factory's owners did not cooperate with investigations they were liable to be shut down.

The Deputy Minister of Industry added that prevention programs for the release of waste water into rivers would need to be implemented. Mr. Piyabuth reassured citizens that the Chao Phraya's River source was still free of pollution.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Polluted water to be discharged before March 18th

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) expects that polluted water from Ang Thong Province will reach the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok before March 18th. BMA has prepared to block canals where the polluted water is expected to flow through before the water reaches the capital city.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin says after inspecting the Chao Phraya River at the Rama VII area that the amount of oxygen in the rivver today stays at 3.6 milligram per liter which is still considered normal. However, BMA has assigned the Department of Drainage and Sewerage to go to Banh Sai (บางไทร) District in Ayutthaya Province to cooperate with officials from the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). The officials’ task is to inspect the polluted water in Ayutthaya before it reaches Bangkok.

BMA has released water from the Chao Phraya and Rama VI reservoirs to dilute the polluted water.

BMA has also instructed the environment divisions in all districts to step up measures monitoring waste water treatment systems in factories to make sure that they do not release waste water to the environment.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Minister of Interior assigns deputy to resolve water pollution issue

The Minister of Interior has assigned the Deputy Minister of Interior on the Minister's behalf to find ways to resolve water pollution issues in the Chao Phraya River.

Minister of Interior Aree Wongarya (อารีย์ วงศ์อารยะ) revealed progress of investigations into putrid water in areas of the Chao Phraya River which flowed through Angthong and Ayutthaya provinces. Mr. Aree has assigned the Deputy Minister of Interior, Mr. Banyat Chansenah (บัญญัติ จันทน์เสนะ), as his representative in handling the matter.

Mr. Aree said that a committee would also be established to investigate reports by the governor of Ayutthaya that water pollutions were caused by the release of chemicals from a local MSG factory. He said that if findings indicate that the factory was responsible for the pollution they would be prosecuted under the law.

The Minister of Interior added that Mr. Banyat would be tasked with mediating conflicts between local industry owners and residents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 March 2007

[Bagwan]

"It could go wrong, so it did go wrong" is sure to be the final epitaph for this disaster.

Murphy's Law.

Action, if any, will depend on how high up the feeding chain the factory's owners are.

[Jai Dee]

Department of Industrial Works affirms monosodium glutamate factory release waste water illegally

Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works affirms that the monosodium glutamate factory has been discharging waste water into natural water sources. Residents nearby the factory complained that the factory has been discharging contaminated water into nearby rivers and into the main Chao Phraya River in Ang Thong and Ayutthaya provinces.

Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, Ratchada Singkalavanit (รัชดา สิงคาลวณิช) reveals that the Ang Thong Province is already excavating the area around the factory to look for evidences of water contamination from the pipes coming from the factory. If toxic substances are found in the pipe, the authority will take legal actions against the factory immediately.

According to Mrs Ratchada, the releasing of waste water by factories to the environment is against the Industry Ministry’s law.

The Director-General also calls for residents living near industrial factories to monitor activities which might negatively affect the environment. They are encouraged to alert officials from the Department of Pollution Control or the Royal Irrigation Department if they suspect that the factory has damaged the environment.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 March 2007

[Bagwan]

The Director-General also calls for residents living near industrial factories to monitor activities which might negatively affect the environment. They are encouraged to alert officials from the Department of Pollution Control or the Royal Irrigation Department if they suspect that the factory has damaged the environment.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 March 2007

Does this include Rayong? The lead mine by Klitty Creek in Tak? The farmers of Chinag Mai?

[bingobongo]

so will this improve the current wonderful smell of bangkok during the hot season?

[game4shame]

this will ruin the pristine bkk waters.

[Jai Dee]

Cabinet to consider compensation for fish farmers affected by polluted water

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives prepares to submit proposals to the Cabinet about compensation for fish farmers affected by the polluted water in the Chao Phraya River. The president of a committee investigating the cause of the dead fish will today (March, 19th) inspect the monosodium glutamate factory alleged of releasing waste water to the river.

The polluted Chao Phraya River in Ang Thong and Ayutthaya provinces have killed water animals in the river as well as those raised in floating baskets. 90 fish farmers in Ang Thong and 108 farmers in Ayutthaya have been affected by the situation. The total cost of damage is estimated at 47 million baht.

Meanwhile, Ang Thong Governor Wiboon Sa-nguanpong (วิบูลย์ สงวนพงศ์) says he has assigned Mrs Benjawan Ai-pleuang (เบญจวรรณ อ้ายเปลื่อง) to inspect the monosodium glutamate factory. Mrs Benjawan is the president of the committee investigating the cause of the dead fish in the province and the deputy governor.

Fish farmers of Tambon Bang Sanid (บางสนิท) in Ang Thong suggest that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative should accelerate primary compensation for them. The compensation should be at least 60 percent of the cost of production of each fishing farm.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Thira Sutabutr (ธีระ สูตะบุตร) affirms he will adjust compensation criteria for the affected fish farmers. The ministry has planned to increase compensation for them to 33,000 baht per floating basket and will inform the Cabinet of the adjusted compensation criteria tomorrow (March, 20th). It expects that the farmers will receive compensation 7-8 days after the Cabinet has approved the criteria.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

BAAC to postpone debt payments of farmers affected by polluted water

Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Ayutthaya Province calls for the government to provide aid to fish breeders affected by the polluted water of the Chao Phraya River.

Director of the BAAC in Ayutthaya says measures to alleviate the farmers who are the bank’s clients include the postponement of debt payments and the reduction of loan interests. The BAAC board will request the Cabinet to approve the measures during the Cabinet meeting tomorrow (March, 20th).

Meanwhile, Ayutthaya Governor Cherdphan Na Songkla (เชิดพันธ์ ณ สงขลา) reveals that the amount of oxygen in the Chao Phraya River measured in front Wat Cherng Lane (เชิงเลน) is around 2-4 milligram per liter. The area of the polluted water reduces to 1.5-2 kilometers in diameter. Five districts, 118 farmers, and 502 fish farms have been affected by the polluted water. The cost of damage is estimated at 12 million baht.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Green Peace suggests relevant agencies to allow residents to take part in tackling water pollution

Green Peace suggests Department of Industrial Works and Department of Pollution Control to allow residents to take part in tackling water pollution in natural resources.

Today (March 19), Green Peace South East Asia Coordinator Ms. Patwajee Srisuwan (ภัสน์วจี ศรีสุวรรณ) says that the network of Green Peace in foreign countries has paid special interests in the current water pollution in Ang Thong (อ่างทอง) and Ayuddhaya (อยุธยา) Provinces of Thailand. She says that Green Peace has expressed concern as Chao Praya (เจ้าพระยา) River is the main river of Thailand and has influenced the lives of residents and aquatic animals.

Green Peace views that local resident should be allowed to take part in tackling the situation as they understand the problems very well.

At the same time, Ms. Patwajee has cast doubts over the delay in implementation of relevant agencies in testing water quality released from monosodium glutamate factory.

Green Peace has urged the government to take serious action and to prevent such a repeat. It says that the government must be able to provide an adequate answer to the pollution in Chao Praya River.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 March 2007

[LindsayBKK]

Well lucky I am not a big fish eater but still I guess I will be avoiding fish for a while. Any other species to be avoided that are harvested from local rivers? I would like to know how many waste management plants there are in Thailand that dispose of dangerous chemicals. But then again I don't think I wanna know. See I am getting more Thai everyday

[Jai Dee]

Aerators to breathe life into the Chao Phya

More than a dozen aerators will be installed in canals connecting Bangkok with adjacent provinces as a further measure to tackle polluted water in the Chao Phya River, Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday.

The 20 aerators are in addition to previous measures such as closing all sluice gates to lessen the impact from contaminated water flowing from Angthong and Ayutthaya, where thousands of farmed fish were killed by the polluted water early last week.

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) reported last night that the contaminated water was 6km to 8km from Pathum Thani. The city governor urged city residents to only use tap water. He said the Chao Phya River in the city currently had a dissolved oxygen (DO) level of two to three milligrams per litre (mg/l), which was considered normal.

Apirak said recent massive inflows of seawater also meant that the main body of polluted water would reach Pathum Thani today (March 20).

RID spokesman Boonsanong Suchatpong said the polluted water had a DO level was at 1.74mg/l when it reached Wat Trairatwittaya in Ayutthaya's Bang Sai district, seven kilometres from Pathum Thani.

The department would speed up installation of the Chai Pattana Foundation aerators - handed over to RID by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, he said.

Five aerators would be installed at Ayutthaya's Bang Sai Royal Folks Arts and Crafts Centre, five at Pathum Thani's Muang district, and 10 in Nonthaburi.

Ayutthaya Governor Cherd-phan na Songkla said he had hired a private company to add more oxygen to the river, which should ease the impact on Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, and Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Pollution Control Department (PCD) director-general Supat Wangwongwatana, said the laboratory test results had not been completed and so far it could only be concluded that the fish had died from a lack of oxygen and that the water was not polluted by agricultural chemicals.

Unable to pinpoint whether the pollution came from a capsized sugar barge or an industrial factory, Supat said the PCD would gather information for the committee assigned by Angthong Governor today (March 20) to analyse results by various agencies to determine the cause.

While the PCD was waiting for the test results, it had found that the sunken barge carrying 650 tonnes of sugar was equal to 440,000 kilogrammes of biochemical oxygen - leading to lower oxygen conditions in the river, according to Supat.

Source: The Nation - 20 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Villagers demand MSG factory to remove pipeline within 5 days

Ang Thong Deputy Governor Sumet Saengnimnuan (สุเมธ แสงนิ่มนวล) says a group of troubled fishermen, industrial representatives and relevant agencies have gathered to inspect a monosodium glutamate (MSG) factory in Ang Thong's Pa Mok district. They believe that the factory released polluted water into Chao Phraya River and killed many fish and marine animals in the river consequently.

Following the inspection on the factory’s wastewater management system, the group has found a suspicious pipeline. The group has demanded the factory to demolish the pipeline within five days if the factory wants to proclaim its innocence.

However, Deputy Governor Sumet says the quality of water in Chao Phraya River in Ang Thong is getting better as the oxygen value is increasing. He expects the quality of water will return to normal soon.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

RID says contaminated water not that severe

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) said that contaminated water is not too severe. The department has shrugged off worries about the effect of the water pollution and that it will kill aquatic animals.

RID Spokesman Boonsanong Suchartphong (บุญสนอง สุชาติพงษ์) reveals that RID has started installing equipments to prevent the polluted water and add more oxygen in the water. RID expects that the equipments will help increase the amount of oxygen in the water to three milligrams per liter.

As for the polluted water in Bang Sai (บางไทร) District, Ayutthaya Province, the amount of oxygen in it is measured today in the morning at 2.7 milligram per liter. The oxygen in the water is expected to increase in the afternoon today.

RID has already installed 21 oxygen production machines along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. 15 more machines will be installed in Nonthaburi Province and other provinces where the polluted water is flowing pass before arriving in Bangkok.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

BMA admits wastewater flow has reached city area

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration admits that wastewater has reached Bangkok via the Chao Phraya River.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Drainage and Sewerage, Mr. Charnchai Withoonpanyakit (ชาญชัย วิทูรปัญญากิจ), revealed that wastewater flow from Angthong province has reached Bangkok. Mr. Charnchai said that the situation was evident from a drastic drop in oxygen content in the Chao Phraya River, with dissolved oxygen measured at only 1-2 milligrams per liter of water.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Drainage and Sewerage affirmed that the low dissolved oxygen content did not warrant an emergency decree, and that no reports of dead fish have been logged. Mr. Charnchai believes that dissolved oxygen content in the Chao Phraya would stabilize at 2 milligrams per liter.

Bangkok water supplies remain safe, as the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority reports a normal dissolved oxygen content of 3-4 milligrams per liter in city reservoirs. Authorities believe that Chao Phraya wastewaters would be swept out to sea within 3 days.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 March 2007

[Jai Dee]

Oxygen value of Chao Phraya River in BKK reduces

The oxygen value of Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is reducing drastically. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin however says the situation is still manageable and polluted water will be quickly drained into the sea. He believes polluted water will be completely drained within next week.

The Bangkok Governor says foul water from Ang Thong province has entered Bangkok, but there are no reports of dead fish in the capital yet. He says officials are following the situation at all times. He says 14 air pumping machines are now operating in Chao Phraya River in Bangkok around the clock in order to increase the oxygen value.

The Department of Drainage and Sewerage Deputy Director-General, Mr. Charnchai Withoonpanyakit, says the oxygen value of Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is at about 1.5 milligrams per liter, lower than the previous days. He says the level is not yet critical, and further evaluation will be done again to seek solutions to the problems.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 March 2007

[george]

Update:

Sugar barge owner faces lawsuits over river pollution drama

BANGKOK: -- The sinking of a sugar barge was the main cause of the water pollution that killed a massive number of fish in the Chao Phya River in Angthong and Ayutthaya last month - not a factory that makes monosodium glutamate, Cabinet was told on Tuesday.

Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarb said Cabinet was informed Tuesday of the results from a meeting of experts hosted by the Pollution Control Department over the past few days.

The experts agreed evidence pointed to the barge that sank while carrying 650 tonnes of sugar on March 3, as the main cause of the pollution. A particularly high amount of sugar was detected in the polluted water.

And scientific experiments show that when a large amount of sugar is dissolved in water, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels sharply decline, as occurred in affected areas of the Chao Phya, the spokesman said.

Yongyuth said the two provinces would be in charge of financial assistance to fish farmers affected by the polluted water. They should contact the Fishery Department to get fish hatchlings for the farmers and support a coop for fish farmers, or apply for loans from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

It was up to relevant departments such as the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to cooperate with affected farmers in regard to lawsuits for compensation, he said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Kasem Sanidwong na Ayudhaya told reporters that legal action would be filed according to Article 97 of the environmental law - and undertaken in two parts.

First, the Pollution Control and Fishery departments would file a civil suit to demand compensation from the sugar barge owner and the boat rescue firm for the PCD's expenses to rehabilitate the river as well as what the Fishery Department spent to assess the loss of fish and riverlife.

Second, the government would contact the Law Society of Thailand and the Lawyers' Council to help the affected fish farmers sue the sugar barge owner for compensation.

-- The Nation 2007-04-10

[lingling]

Update:

Sugar barge owner faces lawsuits over river pollution drama

In related news: MSG factory owner overbids sugar barge owner in bribe to investigating authorities.

This whole thing is just a joke, 650 tonnes of sugar is like piss in the ocean. A too obvious coverup.

[drummer]

I take it the regulatory agencies there are quite lax. If a company discharged waste in to a public waterway, it can be tracked via discharge logs. Surely point sources need to be permitted there like in most countries.

Well, the US has a lot of problems like this, too. Problem is, the fines are cheaper than proper disposal!