Green moat water safe for Songkran, say Chiang Mai authorities


Image: Daily News

CHIANG MAI:-- Chiang Mai residents worried about the safety of the water in the city moat posted pictures of a menacing looking green sludge near the city gate.

With thousands of revellers expected at the Songkran festival they were concerned about the possibility of skin diseases, reports Daily News.

But local officials alerted by the complaints have said that the water is fine if somewhat green from leaves that fell in high winds on Saturday and weed growing in the water due to high temperatures at this time of the year.

Chatri Cheumnocharn of the Chiang Mai municipal authority said that it was natural phenomena and the water was safe for Songkran.

Workers removed leaves and sucked sludge caused by weed from the moat Sunday so at least it looks cleaner.

Source: Daily News


-- 2016-04-11

That's very reassuring.

Now i definitely stay away from the moat.

We're not in CM, but there's no way I would squirt or want to be squirted with that

Green water is unsafe to swim in but it's ok if you are soaked in it NOT.

You just have to laugh at the stupidity.

Nutrios waste water going into the moat.

Could be fixed if anybody cared.

And the Chiang Mai Public Analyst has supposedly said that the colour of the water was not a problem However bathers should be aware they might catch Leptospirosis, Schismosotiasis and Labyrinthitis for starters from bacteria in the canal. He is rumoured to have assured the public that Chiang Mai hospitals were, naturally, well qualified to treat these conditions. Musht be shome mishtake shurely?

And I have it on good authority that effluent from one or more local public health laboratories is regularly discharged into the moat. I hate to think what the risks are from that. Still say it's safe? I finished up with double ear infections from being sprayed with moat water two Songkrans ago and will be avoiding the area this week.

Put your money where your mouth is, Mr. Chatri.

Dive in there and take a swim.

There are rats lining in and by the moat, and they often swim in the water, so add Weils disease to the risks, catch that and you can be dead within three days

And some people wonder why I stay home, 18 klm from the moat, during Songkran.

You just have to laugh at the stupidity.

And this STUPIDITY come from the top. So would that make Superior stupidity ?

I've always thought the allure of blue/ green algae to be more attractive for tourists

Pity TV does not offer smell-a-vision I'm sure it will soon be up there with the legendary Pattaya street drains

And some people wonder why I stay home, 18 klm from the moat, during Songkran.

might be very wise to stay home after hearing this one. I do.

Anyone who has been here awhile has probably been sprayed a little with this stuff

I know on some days while on the scooter & the fountain sprayers are shooting ...the wind

will carry the spray right into our faces as we ride past

Smelly stuff like old naam plaa & that is just a fine mist 555

I would not want to get a bucket full in the face

I did one Chiang Mai Songkran 7 years ago. That was enough to cure me.

Anyone with a wife or relative working in a local Hospital will tell you that for weeks/months after Songkran people are being treated for ailments caused by the Moat water. Common problems are eye, ear, throat and skin infections.

Anyone who believes a word said by local 'authorities' here needs their head tested !

And I have it on good authority that effluent from one or more local public health laboratories is regularly discharged into the moat. I hate to think what the risks are from that. Still say it's safe? I finished up with double ear infections from being sprayed with moat water two Songkrans ago and will be avoiding the area this week.

not to mention what the Chinese tourists use the moat for.

Still it can't be as bad as the famous San Saeb canal in Bangkok......

Don't worry folks! Eye, ear, throat and skin infections are just like the green water: .............all just 'natural phenomena'.

removed duplicate post

You just have to laugh at the stupidity.

I am laughed out at all the stupidity.

They can't be serious.... I would hope that they post signs saying to stay away from the water. Sometimes these officials think and act like a bunch of kids.

Whats happening today by the moat? have they started throwing the green slime at passers by yet.. sounds pretty quiet where I am for the 12th..

Wait...isn't that the Chinese toilet?

Beware...sometimes brown trout get snatched up in that bucket.

Between the air and water in Chiang Mai...I suppose space suits would be appropriate protection.

That's very reassuring.

Now i definitely stay away from the moat.

I find your avatar less than reassuring...

Weed growing in the water? Sweet!!! How much is the airfare again?

Please officials if your going to give bullshit replies to questions get your untrue facts straight, the algae bloom has been there for over 3 weeks noy from leaves on saturday, I walk a part of the southern moat every morning and the vivd green has been there at least that long,

They have put the white plastic buoy lines out, when asked one of the workers said it was a safe area for the children to swim, yep in the vivid green stuff.

I wont be venturing anywhere remotely near the moat, the water pistol sellers had drums full of moat water this morning that was a very brown colour with a tinge of green ready to load their customers purchases.