Current state andfuture policy direction of the water
environment management
framework in Thailand

Dr. Wijarn Simachaya

Deputy Permanent Secretary
Thailand Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Contents• State of Water Environment in Thailand• Existing Policy, Regulations andImplementations• Future Policy• Recommendations• Conclusion

State of Water Environment inThailand

Sources of Water
Pollution• Point Source Pollution– Domestic wastewater generates by various sources inresidential areas, restaurants, hotel, food markets,
harbor, hospital and buildings. (about 70 %)– Industrial wastewater generates from various types
and process of factory.
– Agriculture point sources generates from pig farms,
fish and shrimp pond.

• Non-point Source Pollution– Pollution of organic waste (fertilizer application),
sedimentation, nutrient (nitrogen and phosphoruscompounds) and pesticides

Surface Water Quality
in Thailand
100%
90%

20

18

18
40

80%

32

23

172122

ดี
32

พอใช้
เสือ่ มโทรม70%
60%

19

43

45

40

50%

25

31

เสือ่ มโทรมมาก35

49
53

51

54

34

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

30

33
35

722542

2543

32

92544

31
21

44

29

23

24

3

6553

22545

2546

2547

25482549

2550

2551

342552ปี พ.ศ.

Water Quality
Monitoring Results
Class 2 (Conservation of Aquatic life)

Class 4 (Industry)

21%

PoorFair
48%
Class 3 (Agriculture)

Good

31%

Water Quality
Identification

NH320%

FCB
31%

DO
10%

BOD
16%

TCB
23%

Existing Policy, Regulations andImplementations

Thailand’s Economic Development
towards Sustainability

Source: NESDB, 2012

National Environmental
Quality Management Plan(2012-2016)
Principles

Sustainable Development
Ecosystem Approach
The Precautionary Principle
The Polluters Pay Principle (PPP) and the
Beneficiaries Pay Principle (BPP)

Public-Private PartnershipGood GovernancePolicy On Water Quality
Improvement(1) ensuring better environmental governancethrough institutional restructuring, compliance,and decentralization;(2) introducing a sustainable financing mechanism,
i.e Polluter Pays Principle;(3) promoting more active community participation inwater resource management ;(4) improving waste and wastewater management inlarge cities; and(5) improving water environment of the major river
basinsWastewater Management
Regulations
 Law Regulation and Enforcement Measures
 The Enhancement and Conservation of National
Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535 (NEQA 1992)
 Water Quality Standards : Ambient Water Quality Standards
 Effluent Standards
 Other Laws

 Management Measures :-Monitor and Evaluate Water Quality in Receiving waters-Pollution Control Zone
- Protected Areas

 Investment Measures :Establish Wastewater Treatment Facilities

14

Water Quality Standards

Ambient Water quality standards :•••Surface Water Quality Standards B.E. 2537 (1994)
Coastal Water Quality Standards B.E. 2537 (1994)
Groundwater Quality Standards B.E. 2543 (2000)

Effluent standards :•••••Buildings Effluent Standards B.E. 2537 (1994)
Housing Estates Effluent Standards B.E. 2539 (1996)
Industrial Effluent Standards B.E. 2539 (1996)
Pig Farm Effluent Standards B.E. 2544 (1991)
Gas Station Effluent Standard and Oil Terminal Effluent
Standards B.E. 2545 (2002)

Municipal Wastewater Managementin Thailand(2,008) Municipalities

MWW~3.8 M m3/d

BMA, Pattaya City

MWW. ~2.7 M m3/d

(5,767) LAOs

MWW~ 8.5 M m3/d

Total MWW~15 M m3/d
Total BOD Loading~ …… Ton BOD/dTreatment capacity ~3.2 M m3/d(~ 21.3% of total MWW)

Municipal Wastewater Management inThailand

OVERVIEW

Municipal Wastewater:approximately 15 M m3/day of municipal
wastewater generated by the population
around the country in year 2010. Includes : (2,008) Municipalities ~ 3.8 M m3/d
 (5,767) LAOs

~ 8.5 M m3/d

 BMA, Pattaya City

~ 2.7 M m3/d

101 MWF in the country have been
constructed (approximately 3.2 millions
m3/day of the treatment capacity or 21.3
% of total wastewater)

Policy on Municipal Wastewater
Management (MWM)
Construct new
Municipal Wastewater
Treatment SystemCentralized
Wastewater
Treatment

Reduce Municipal
Wastewater at
Sources of Pollution

Cluster
Wastewater
Treatment

Grease Trap&Onsite
Treatment

Support the EfficientManagement of Operating& Maintaining

Law Enforcement

Strict Law Enforcement&
Establish Local
OrdinanceTarget and Prioritizing the operational areas forManagement of Municipal Wastewater(2010-2041)
Prioritize the importance of 25 river basins throughout Thailand bybasing on the deterioration of water quality parameters as thestandards to prioritize the level of deterioration

 Priority of municipal areas in each river basin using the following criteria:(1) crisis area
(2) deterioration of water quality of the water resources(3) quantity of municipal wastewater and sludge from municipal
wastewater and(4) location of municipal areas especially if located near the waterresources Classifying of municipal wastewater management based on the result ofprioritization of river basins and importance of the municipal area to help
establish the implementation plan according to urgency

Alternative for Municipal
Wastewater Managementin Thailand
On-siteCluster Wastewater Treatment

Centralized WastewaterTreatment
20

On-Site Wastewater Treatment
On-Site Wastewater Treatment

21Cluster Wastewater Treatment

Cluster Wastewater Treatment2222

On-site Wastewater Treatment System in SmallCommunities
Mae Sa (Chiang Mai Province) Anaerobic Filter (AF) capacity of 1 m3/d

AF
Grease trap

Septic tankwastewater

Toilet23

On-site Wastewater Treatment System in
Small Communities (Cont.)

Ko Lanta (Krabi Province) Anaerobic Filter (AF) capacity of 0.75 m3/d

construction

septicfilter
Installation

24

Installation

On-site Wastewater Treatment System in
Small Communities (Cont.)

Ko Chang (Trat Province) 19 onsite treatment (AF) with capacity of 30 m3/dCommunity

wastewater is directly
discharging into the sea

People participation

People participation

25

Ko Chang (Trat Province)
Flow 1- 3 m3/d

Inf.

BOD 200 mg/L

Ko Chang: Anaerobic Filter (AF)

Septic
AF 1

AF 3

AF 2Eff.

BOD <30 mg/L

Construction Cost 32,200 - 61,600 Baht
(1,00-2,00 US$)

Media

26

26

Cluster Wastewater Treatment Plant

27

Cluster Wastewater Treatment Plant

Equalizing
Tankกุมภาพันธ์ 57

Aeration
Tank

Sedimentation
Tank

28 28

Pilot Project : On site Wastewater Treatment
capacity of 50 m3/dกุมภาพันธ์ 57

29 29

Mobile wastewater treatment capacity of 30 m3/dกุมภาพันธ์ 5730 30

CannaReedTypha31

Future Policy

(draft) Green Growth Strategy
National
Environmental
Quality
ManagementPlanConcept
Country Strategy

Rio+20‐ Growth & Competitiveness‐ Inclusive Growth‐ Green Growth‐ Green Economy‐ Institutional Frameworkon SustainableDevelopment(2012‐2016)

Relevant plans

11th National
Economic &Social
Development
Plan(draft)
GreenGrowthStrategy(2012‐2016)

1. Shifting
towards
Sustainableconsumption
and production- Pollution Control- Climate Change‐ Energyetc.

2. Strengthening
economic
instruments andenvironmentallaws

3. Creating
resilience toclimate change
and natural
disasters

4. Ensuring
goodenvironmentalquality

5. Management
andsustainable useof natural
resources

6. Building
anenvironment
ally‐friendly
society

Measures implementation by the Sustainable Development Committee

Moving to Green Economy: Concrete Policy Implementation
GREEN ECONOMY PATHS

Sustainableconsumption& production

Sustainableinfrastructure

Investment
in natural
capitals

Greenbusiness& markets

Green tax

Ecoefficiency
indicators

Renewable
EnergyEnergyEfficiency

Organic
Agriculture

Green Public
Procurement

CarbonReduction
Label

Mitigation
Projects

CSR

EcoIndustrialParks

Green
BuildingNationalLCA
Database

CarbonFootprintLegislationon
Green Tax

Constraints in Domestic Wastewater
Management in Thailand
 Most urban communities lack of appropriate
domestic wastewater facilities and management
 The communities and people still lackunderstanding in wastewater problem andawareness to protect their own environment
 The local administration organizations are still
unable to manage domestic wastewater Lack of budget for construction of the newwastewater collection system and wastewater
facilities as well as for supporting operation andmaintenance system
 Limitation of wastewater discharge fee / notwilling to pay

Challenges• Climate ChangeImpact• Water Shortage andWater Reuse• Trans-boundary
Water Environment• Public Participation
and Awareness• River BasinManagement andIntegrated WaterResources
Management• Biodiversity andAquatic Ecosystem• Sustainable
Consumption andProduction – GreenEconomy

Oil Spill in Rayong Province

Lead (Pb) Contamination in Waterand Food

KlityMining

Prohibit for drinking water from the Klity CreekCadmium Contaminationin Water and Soil from Mining

Cd Contamination in Rice Products¥Thank you
E-mail: wijarn2002@yahoo.com

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND
ENVIRONMENT, THAILAND