Bangkok's Don Muang Canal Full Of Dirty Water, Survey Finds

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ENVIRONMENT

Don Muang canal full of dirty water, survey finds

Pongphon Sarnsamak

Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The quality of water in the Premprachakorn canal - one of Bangkok's main drainage channels - has deteriorated badly, the Environmental Quality Promotion Department has reported.

Researchers from the department's environmental training and research centre conducted a random test recently to study water in the canal in Don Muang district, which leads directly into the Chao Phraya River. Some 8,000 people live near it.

The research team found water quality in the canal was in crisis as the dissolved oxygen (DO) level measured zero milligrams per litre. The standard measurement of DO should not be below 2 mg per litre.

The study also found water in the canal was contaminated with a high level of coliform bacteria, notably E-coli which measured from 30,000 to 60,000 units per milligram per litre. The standard for E-coli in water should not exceed 200 units/mg/per litre.

"This high level of E-coli could come from faecal matter and garbage released into the canal," the department's director-general Kasemsan Jinnwaso said during his study of the canal's water last Friday.

"Such a large amount of E-coli in the canal could cause diarrhoea and other illness among people living near its banks," he said.

Kasemsan said his department planned to improve the quality of water by using effective micro-organism (EM) mudballs to eliminate the coliform bacteria and E-coli in the canal before next season's flooding.

He also expressed concern over the large amount of garbage, debris and permanent construction, such as residential homes, that has made the canal shallower and could cause drainage problems over the next four months.

"The department will ask for the cooperation from people living along the canal to help the agency eliminate all garbage and restore the canal," Kasemsan said.

Puttachart Sangkarnsab, 54, who has lived by Premprachakorn canal for more 50 years, said the deterioration in water quality had been caused by the growth of residential areas near the canal and rise in population in recent years.

A survey of the canal by the department, from Don Muang District office to Wat Don Muang, seems to back her comments. The team found a high number of residents' houses along the canal, which had made narrow. It was just 10m wide and 150cm deep in some parts - which would make drainage in the rainy season difficult.

-- The Nation 2012-02-21

[Carib]

Full of dirty water?? Now who would have thunk that...

[Nisa]

Full of dirty water?? Now who would have thunk that...

Yea, I was under the impression every one thought drainage water met the same standard as drinking water but was just given a natural color to let people know it was natural.

[geriatrickid]

LOL so very Thai.

[noitom]

Did you notice the high level of E-coli , 30k-60k units /per/mg./ liter, against a maximum acceptable of 200 units/per/mg./liter. Quite a variance from acceptable. We could safely bet that the 30k-60k range cited was a "damage control hedge," with the count being 60K more often than not. WHO officials might be dropping in to Don Muang anytime soon with those white space suits on doing their own specimen checks.

The article went on to say that "people living near its banks might get diarrhea and other illness." Many of these people are showing up at your local food stall serving lunch or tasty treats on the street. This contaminated canal water and fecal matter mixed in with vermin droppings and urine is a very serious ramification of the after floods not being managed professionally.

[MAN2SIN2BKK]

Just Don Mueang Canal????? That photo is typical of the rubbish on all the canals outside BMA's authority............. No chance of local residents clearing that up, they expect this year's flood to float the crap away!

Edited February 21, 2012 by MAN2SIN2BKK

[DocN]

No!

Really?

You must be kidding me?!

Dirty water?

In Bangkok?

I am outraged!

...next...

[bushwacker]

A sad custom here in Amazing Thailand. If you have garbage, just drop it .... your problem is solved. I see it every day. There is a beautiful large park across the street from my home and everyday there are hundreds of Thais that go to walk, exercise and socialize. And everyday the park is covered with litter as people just drop wrappings and bags where they stand even when the waste bucket is right beside them. Leave it for somebody else to pick up, no longer their problem. Unbelievable.

[dutchweller]

The canal I cross over every day Literally Boils with black sludge and garbage.

The local Farangs Dubbed it "The River Stixx" after a soi dog was thrown in it by the motor cycle taxi guys and promptly died 2 days later...

[scorecard]

LOL so very Thai.

What, no excuses?

[scorecard]

Did you notice the high level of E-coli , 30k-60k units /per/mg./ liter, against a maximum acceptable of 200 units/per/mg./liter. Quite a variance from acceptable. We could safely bet that the 30k-60k range cited was a "damage control hedge," with the count being 60K more often than not. WHO officials might be dropping in to Don Muang anytime soon with those white space suits on doing their own specimen checks.

The article went on to say that "people living near its banks might get diarrhea and other illness." Many of these people are showing up at your local food stall serving lunch or tasty treats on the street. This contaminated canal water and fecal matter mixed in with vermin droppings and urine is a very serious ramification of the after floods not being managed professionally.

And where's the health authorities. This overall scenario could easily kill small children who get diarrhea and e-coli infections.

[Reasonableman]

The photo does not show how dirty the water is, only how the resident's house has been converted to a garbage dump. Clearly, a confirmatory survey was needed.

Bring on the cleanup! How many months later, and what has been done? Pray tell.

[OzMick]

Nothing that couldn't be fixed in a few hours with a D8.

[1bbcd5]

Hmmmm ... I'm going to have to think about that one

[OzMick]

Does this help?

Edited February 21, 2012 by OzMick

[Moruya]

^{You would find this in almost every klong in Bangkok and beyond. Storm drains too. Look at the vile ones on Viphavhadi Rangsit near Central? Or the ones on Chaengwattana near Central again. The stink is horrendous and you have cafes and coffee shops adjacent to them!}

^{Been like that for years. Mosquito larvae by the million.}

[Buchholz]

Did you notice the high level of E-coli , 30k-60k units /per/mg./ liter, against a maximum acceptable of 200 units/per/mg./liter. Quite a variance from acceptable. We could safely bet that the 30k-60k range cited was a "damage control hedge," with the count being 60K more often than not. WHO officials might be dropping in to Don Muang anytime soon with those white space suits on doing their own specimen checks.

The article went on to say that "people living near its banks might get diarrhea and other illness." Many of these people are showing up at your local food stall serving lunch or tasty treats on the street. This contaminated canal water and fecal matter mixed in with vermin droppings and urine is a very serious ramification of the after floods not being managed professionally.

Will the canal be a source of water for the upcoming Songkran splashing festivities?

"Happy New Year!!! Have a mouthful of fecal matter!"

.

Edited February 21, 2012 by Buchholz

[WarpSpeed]

Full of dirty water?? Now who would have thunk that...

And to think, it took a scientific research team to test and prove that???? It reminds of a certain racially stereo typical joke about changing a light bulb ...

Edited February 21, 2012 by WarpSpeed

[Payboy]

I know a great EM ball factory.

[WarpSpeed]

The photo does not show how dirty the water is, only how the resident's house has been converted to a garbage dump. Clearly, a confirmatory survey was needed.

Bring on the cleanup! How many months later, and what has been done? Pray tell.

In my neighborhood the dump piles that were NEVER completely cleared, mostly just leveled, have now begun to grow again .. That's what's been done!

[spirit47]

Why not pumping to the ricefields, must be a strong fertilizer...

Maybe to strong...

[blows]

I wish I had known that before I went swimming in it.

[marstons]

residents help clean it up, yes right. By the time the rain season comes a long again they will have no doubt made it even worse.

[OzMick]

What a great use of flood funds - resume any titles that exist and then bulldoze any illegal dwellings. Once every couple of months should be often enough for people to take the hint.

Canals get to perform their function during floods without obstruction, and with a bit of grass seed, the city gets some much-needed open recreational space.

[Unkomoncents]

Now who'd have thunk that? Did the survey include going to the canal and looking at it? Because that's about all ya need to do to figure this one out.

[nigelnigel]

Why did they even bother testing it? <deleted>?! Really, is there any canal, river, lake..anything that is NOT filthy, disgusting, disease ridden anywhere in Thailand???

[kingstonkid]

It is not the only one anyone here life near Saphan Kwai I walk along it once a week and it stinks and the colour and amount of crap in it is unbelievable. The thai governemtn needs to develop sone\\mething along the lines of cement khlongs that can be closed to cleaning and flushed twice a year. i am sure it would help everyone out

[FNQ]

Quote "Help the Agency eliminate all the garbage and restore the Canal"

Good luck with that.

[fire and ice]

A real story/headline would be if anyone found a CLEAN canal in Bangkok.

[siam2007]

isn't it that the streetside-restaurants usually use that black liquid something called "Khlong Saensaeb" to serve as "GRAVY" of the delicious "RAD NA MOO" ?

.

Edited February 21, 2012 by siam2007