Introduction of Decentralized Wastewater
Management Approaches of Thailand
Dr.Chao Nokyoo
Pollution Control Department
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
The WEPA International Workshop
21 February 2019Tokyo1

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation
for all

Indicator
6.1.1 Proportion ofpopulation using safely
managed drinking water
services

Indicator
6.2.1 Proportion ofpopulation usingsafely managed
sanitation services,
including a handwashing facility withsoap and water

Indicator
6.3.1 Proportion ofwastewater safely
treated6.3.2 Proportion ofbodies of water withgood ambient water
quality

Indicator
6.4.1 Change in water-use
efficiency over time
6.4.2 Level of water stress:
freshwater withdrawal asa proportion of available
freshwater resources

Indicator
6.5.1 Degree of integrated
water resourcesmanagement
implementation (0-100)
6.5.2 Proportion oftransboundary basin areawith an operationalarrangement for water
cooperation

Indicator
6.6.1 Change in the extent
of water-related
ecosystems over time

25.7
millionhouseholds

66

X 150

millionpersons

lpcd

9.9
million cu.m./day

99.5%

14%

0.7%
In 1960

In 2009

Flushtank86%Poursystem

6%94%

Commercial
package system

Cesspool2Domestic Wastewater• One of the most serious environment problems of Thailand• Approximately 10 million cu.m./day of domestic wastewater
generated by the population around the country in year 2018
• The Government of Thailand has made significant progressin collection and treatment of urban wastewater over thepast decade.
• However, only small portion of total urban wastewater
generated in Thailand is treated.

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Domestic Wastewater Management
Operated 97 plants(2.6 million cu.m./day)Total Wastewatergenerated

46%

handle ~ 26%

Stabilization pond

9.9 million cu.m./dayof wastewater generated

105 plants

16%
1.8 billion USD

Aerated lagoons

7,852
Local Administrative
Organizations

38%

2 plants
In 1985

In 2018

Investment cost

Activated sludge~ 74% or 7.3 million cu.m./day
are partially treated by the onsite sanitation units

Conventional Practices of Faecal Sludge Management (FSM)

House

Buildings
Combined Sewer
Water bodies

Land application

Onsite treatment system

Emptying

Transportation

FS treatment plant

Soil conditioner

4Unveiled Sanitation Issues in Thailand
Daily production
Domestic wastewater
management
Faecal sludge management

X 2,100 mg/L

73.5 tons

5Laws and Regulations for domestic wastewater and faecal sludge management in Thailand
Real estate
effluent standard(> 100 houses) under
Enhancement and Conservation of
National Environmental Quality Act(NEQA)
BOD < 30 mg/L
SS < 40 mg/L

Proposed by LAO
Central wastewater
treatment plant
effluent standard
under NEQA

Enforced by PCD, REO
Building
effluent standard(10 Types) under NEQA

Wastewater tariff
under NEQA
Enforced byPCD, REO

Approved byPollution Control CommitteeBOD < 30 mg/L
SS < 40 mg/L

Enforced byPCD, REO

BOD < 20 mg/L
SS < 30 mg/L

(Draft) TISIstandards
For <10 cu.m./day

FS collection and disposal under Public
Health Act and ACT on the Maintenance ofthe Cleanliness and Orderliness of theCountry

Announcedby LAO

Onsite Installation by 44th and51st Ministerial regulation
under Building control Act

Approved for installation
by LAO
Approvedby LAO

Allowance private company tooperate FSM under Public
Health Act(Draft) Solid fraction standard
Under Public Health Act andproposed by Public HealthDepartment(Draft) effluent standardUnder Public Health Act andproposed by Public HealthDepartment

6Remaining challenges toward the SDG no. 6 on “Safely-Managed Sanitation”• Public awareness66
millionpersons• Criteria on onsite installationfor EIA• Rehabilitate existing WTP• Construct new WTP inprioritized areas i.e. urbanareas• Collect tariff for operation• Monitor effluent standard• More effective enforcement i.e.
third parties, reporting, declareetc.

• Monitor water quality• Establish warning system• Setup loading permit system• Monitor emptying truck ‘Manifestsystem’- logistic tool• Invite manufacturer to test for
product certification (TISIstandard – Performance andmaterial)• Promote certified onsite system
to users• Change ‘cesspool’to ‘appropriatetechnologies’- financial mechanism• Establish service system for maintenance88%
Illegal Dumping• Develop design manual• Establish effluent and solid
fraction standards• Monitor effluent standard

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“Sanitation” is not only a “Treatment” business
but Infrastructure Development
Policy andregulation
Conducivebusinessenvironment
Supply Chain• Regulated DEWAT & FSM services• Promote resource recovery• Standardization••••

Local investment (not only donor driven)
Market structure
Service provision standards
Competitive business environment• Incentivized stakeholders• Recognized “Non‐sewered sanitation”• Demand creation e.g. ODF+ program

Technologies• Innovative systems• Reinventing toilet• Waste‐to‐Resource processor

8Wastewater Collection and Storm
Drainage Systems
 The type of collection systems:
1. Combined Sewer System : drain both rainfalls
and wastewater within one system
2. Separate Sewer System : the sewerage anddrainage are collected in separate piping systems

 most of the drainage systems in Thailand are
combined system
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Domestic Wastewater Management

Centralwastewater
treatment

Clusterwastewater
treatment

Grease trap
On-sitetreatment
systemStrict law enforcement
Issue new regulations

Operation Control to be effective
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Current Constraints
1. Many urban communities are lack of appropriate
domestic wastewater management plan
2. The communities and people still lack understandingin wastewater problem and awareness to protect theenvironment
3. The local administration organizations (LAOs) arestill unable to manage domestic wastewater
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Current Constraints
4. The local administration organizations (LAOs) areunable to manage wastewater treatment facility to beeffective
5. Lack of budget for construction of the newwastewater collection system and wastewater
facilities
6. Lack of public participation in domestic wastewater
management
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The challenges :1. Review the current status and update the data ofexisting wastewater collection network and thedrainage system
2. Propose and assess technically and economicallyfeasible options for Centralized or Decentralized(cluster and onsite) of wastewater treatment system
including identify types, the separate sewage
system, or combined sewer system thatappropriate with local administration organizations(LAOs)
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The challenges :3. Propose domestic wastewater management
measure for sustainable wastewater management
3.1 Promote and support on site management system
3.2 Strict law enforcement
3.3 Educating LAOs and people on domestic wastewater
management
3.4 Encourage public participation
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The challenges :3. Propose domestic wastewater management
measure for sustainable wastewater management
3.5 Define the management of decentral wastewater
treatment plant as a key performance indicator of LAOs
3.6 Support LAOs for effective decentral wastewater
treatment plant management
3.7 Constrain in using economic instrument (Wastewatertariff )30

Thank you foryour Attention
Pollution Control Department
92 Soi Phahon Yothin 7
Phahon Yothin Rd., Phayathai,Bangkok 10400, Thailand

02 298 2000
https://www.facebook.com/PCD.go.th
www.pcd.go.th31