The sandy shores of Karon Beach in Phuket were unexpectedly marred by a stream of black water making its way from the beach into the sea. This unusual sight generated a flurry of concern on social media as bird’s-eye view images of the beach began to circulate, alarming environmental enthusiasts and tourists alike.

The man at the epicentre of it all, Karon Mayor Jadet Wicharasorn, was quick to address the issue. The stream, rather than being a sign of pollution, as many were quick to assume, was a result of natural sedimentation, according to the mayor. He explained that the black colouring was due to sediment extracted from a nearby pond during a period of high tide.

 

Mayor Wicharasorn clarified that this unusual occurrence was linked to the Nong Han pond situated close to the beach. The high tide had reached the pond, and on its retreat, it had drawn out black sediment from the pond, carrying it through the sand and ultimately into the sea. The darkened water, he insisted, was not a sign of pollution but rather a natural phenomenon, reported The Phuket News.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Picture courtesy of Phuket Info Center

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-17

 

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Don't worry it's a "Natural  phenomenon "....

 

 

regards worgeordie

One of the reasons I gave Phuket the flick - not so much Karon but the stuff that was in the canals flowing on to Kata beach always looked appalling 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He explained that the black colouring was due to sediment extracted from a nearby pond during a period of high tide.

And what toxic sludge is in the pond?

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He explained that the black colouring was due to sediment extracted from a nearby pond during a period of high tide.

 

but high tide happens every day. 

He is correct.

 

It is the natural flow of pollution from people that don't give a <deleted> into the sea. 

2 hours ago, stoner said:

 

but high tide happens every day. 

 

Tidal heights vary from day to day, just as sunrise/sunset times vary from day to day.

 

High tides vary by over a metre at Karon.

 

Last night looked to be the highest until the 25th, when the full moon will produce the highest tide......known as a Spring Tide, expect to see more sludge then, maybe the day before:

 

 

https://www.worldbeachguide.com/thailand/karon-beach-tide-times.htm

 

 

 

The Mayor omitted to mention that 'the pool' that forms as the effluent reaches the back of the beach is fed from two sources:  

1. the outflow from Nong Han Lake 

2. A drainage sewer that originates in the foothills and runs through Karon, in a conduit down the main street and emerging as an open ditch around Nong Han Lake.

 

At the time of the image, the tide appears to be about half height and the outfall of the lake is filled with water. The route of the open sewer is shown on the image as a red line. 

 

The attached aerial view from December 2022 shows the black effluent from 'the pool' spreading along the beach in front of a big hotel. It's a frequent occurrence. In the rainy season the sewer is flushed continuously by rain water and is dissipated by the waves.  In the dry season the 'sediment' accumulates in 'the pool' until it is flushed out by a rain shower in a high concentration, is slow to dissipate and more visible and smelly. 

The fact that they don't properly clean the water before it runs out in the sea will of cause not affect the reputation of Thailand as a tourist destination. Everyone like to swim in feces.  

Eating & sh!tting is a natural phenomenon.

18 hours ago, webfact said:

The man at the epicentre of it all, Karon Mayor Jadet Wicharasorn, was quick to address the issue. The stream, rather than being a sign of pollution, as many were quick to assume, was a result of natural sedimentation, according to the mayor. He explained that the black colouring was due to sediment extracted from a nearby pond during a period of high tide.

Maybe the Mayor would like to go swim in the "natural sediment" 

just to add a bit of perspective, 90% of UK streams are polluted by sewage and so are many of the sea beaches. In comparison Thailand doesn't appear to be that bad.

36 minutes ago, fotunate said:

just to add a bit of perspective, 90% of UK streams are polluted by sewage and so are many of the sea beaches. In comparison Thailand doesn't appear to be that bad.

Not sure if comparing bad fecal count beaches to worse fecal count beaches is the best marker for a clean beach.

 

I'm a bit suspect (***) on a couple of these:

The top 10 beaches with the cleanest sea water are:

1. Thung Wua Laen Beach (Chumporn province) 👍

2. Haad Rin (Surat Thani)

3. Bang Ben (Ranong)

4. Kai Bae (Trad)

*** 5. Sai Kaew (Rayong)

*** 6. Chaweng Noi (Surat Thani)

7. Hin Ngam (Nakhon Si Thammarat)

8. Pak Bara (Satun)

9. Chan Damri (Ranong)

10. Pak Kor (Phan Nga)

 

Only swam at #1 TWL, and always nice when surf is cooperating.

Same for Ban Krut, not on list, but will swim there also.

 

Locally, PKK, Ao Manao, and last 2 times ears underwater, got ear infection.   At least it didn't make top 10 list, as previously in top 5 list of cleanest beaches.  Haven't been in the surf locally since.

 

NO PHUKET beaches, and not much of a surprise.

If you want an economy supported by high-volume Tourism you've got to learn to live with this $*it.

better not go for a swim unless you want to swim in what other people ate yesterday

 

I remember seeing exactly this phenomena at exactly the same place (I think the Hilton orbital is just behind the road there) in 2006.

7 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Not sure if comparing bad fecal count beaches to worse fecal count beaches is the best marker for a clean beach.

 

I'm a bit suspect (***) on a couple of these:

The top 10 beaches with the cleanest sea water are:

1. Thung Wua Laen Beach (Chumporn province) 👍

2. Haad Rin (Surat Thani)

3. Bang Ben (Ranong)

4. Kai Bae (Trad)

*** 5. Sai Kaew (Rayong)

*** 6. Chaweng Noi (Surat Thani)

7. Hin Ngam (Nakhon Si Thammarat)

8. Pak Bara (Satun)

9. Chan Damri (Ranong)

10. Pak Kor (Phan Nga)

 

Only swam at #1 TWL, and always nice when surf is cooperating.

Same for Ban Krut, not on list, but will swim there also.

 

Locally, PKK, Ao Manao, and last 2 times ears underwater, got ear infection.   At least it didn't make top 10 list, as previously in top 5 list of cleanest beaches.  Haven't been in the surf locally since.

 

NO PHUKET beaches, and not much of a surprise.

 

Great place Thung Wah Laen.

On 1/17/2024 at 9:44 AM, chub said:

The Mayor omitted to mention that 'the pool' that forms as the effluent reaches the back of the beach is fed from two sources:  

1. the outflow from Nong Han Lake 

2. A drainage sewer that originates in the foothills and runs through Karon, in a conduit down the main street and emerging as an open ditch around Nong Han Lake.

 

At the time of the image, the tide appears to be about half height and the outfall of the lake is filled with water. The route of the open sewer is shown on the image as a red line. 

 

The attached aerial view from December 2022 shows the black effluent from 'the pool' spreading along the beach in front of a big hotel. It's a frequent occurrence. In the rainy season the sewer is flushed continuously by rain water and is dissipated by the waves.  In the dry season the 'sediment' accumulates in 'the pool' until it is flushed out by a rain shower in a high concentration, is slow to dissipate and more visible and smelly. 

 

Back in 2006 when I first saw this the 'big hotel' was a Hilton. It's perfect bubble world had so little to do with the surrounds or the environment that it seemed like from another planet. It reminded me of  an Ian M Banks 'orbital'.

The OP claims that the black effluent crossing the beach from 'the pool' was 'unexpected', something new.  Google Earth takes an aerial photo every year or so, and this black stream appears in many of them. See for example, this image from February 2014.  

One day, satellites will get scratch and sniff technology for their photos, and that will remove all doubt...

 

But I'm not sure that will be a good day.  Partly for killing the romantic notions of a tropical paradise, but especially for a lot of tourist spots.  And not just Thailand.

 

 

19 hours ago, chub said:

The OP claims that the black effluent crossing the beach from 'the pool' was 'unexpected', something new.  Google Earth takes an aerial photo every year or so, and this black stream appears in many of them. See for example, this image from February 2014.  

 

I saw this in 2006!