Updates on Industrial Wastewater
management in Thailand
Ms. Kingdao Intarukdach

Inland water Sub-division
Water Quality Management Division
Pollution Control Department (PCD)
Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MoNRE)

The 18th WEPA Annual Meeting
8 February 2023

Overview of Industrial wastewater
And Current Situation of Water Quality
In Thailand

Industries in Thailand
107 Type followed Ministerial Regulation on Type and Size of the Factory B.E.
2563 (2020)
Ministry of Industry published a ministerial regulation regarding type and size ofthe factory B.E. 2563 (2020). This ministerial regulation was issued on the 5th ofAugust 2020 in order to update the type and size of the factory to be congruent withthe revision of factory operation control regulation.
This ministerial regulation concerns about necessity of supervision, prevention ofannoyance, damage prevention and prevention of the impact on human and environment.

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- Number of industries
had increased
from 2008 – 2014, thenhave been stable until
2019 and drop in 2020
due to pandemic(Covid-19)- The Eastern Economic
Corridor (EEC)
Development Plan has
been launched in 2017,
therefore, the numberof some industries types
increased in this.

Number of Industries in Thailand 2008-2021
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,00060,00040,00020,00002009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

YearD E S I G N E D B Y G R A P H I C B U L B

2020

2021

2022

BOD loading
2,500,000
2,154,020.84

BOD Loading (kg/day)

2,000,000

1,500,000

1,000,000

948,785.51

959,906.98

2017

2018

535,451
500,000

0

2016

Axis Title
Year
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2019

The BOD loading has
been increasing
according to theindustries. However,it must be
controlled underthe carrying capacityof each area.

Map of Small Industries in Thailand- Massive number and cause wastewater pollution insome areas,- In 2014, there was report that indicated the small andcommunity factory contributing only 6% of BOD
loading to rivers.

DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBInland Water Quality Monitoring 389 General Monitoring Stations
 48 Main Rivers

 6 Standing Surface Water Resources (lakes)
 2-4 times/year 76 Automatic Monitoring Stations

Water Quality Index: WQI
The Water Quality Index (WQI) indicates the general water quality, derived from 5 waterquality parameters, namely
Dissolved Oxygen (DO),Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD),
Total Coliform Bacteria (TCB),
Faecal Coliform Bacteria (FCB), andAmmonia - Nitrogen (NH-N).

The index is between 0 - 100, classifyjing the quality as
excellent (91 - 100),good (71 - 90),
fair (61 - 70),
poor (31 - 60), andvery poor (0 - 30).

Water Quality Index: WQI

WQI

Water Quality Standard
The surface water quality standards are classified into
5 classes as follows:
Class 1

Extra clean for conservation purposes

Class 2

Very clean used for (1) consumption which requires ordinary water
treatment processes (2) aquatic organism conservation (3) fisheries,and (4) recreation

Class 3Medium clean used for (1) consumption but passing through an ordinary
treatment process and (2) agriculture

Class 4

Fairly clean used for (1) consumption, but requires special treatment
process and (2) industry ClassClass 5

Waters are not classification in class 1-4 which is no water quality
requirement and used for navigation

Water Quality Standard
The surface water quality standards are classified into
5 classes as follows:
2021, Results of water quality monitoring of major water sources
compare with surface water standards- 59 water sources found that 48 water sources (81%) did not meet
the Surface Water Quality Standards.
- 11 water sources (19%) that meet Surface Water Quality Standards.

These include (1) Upper Tapee River (2) Songkhram (3) Sai Buri
(4) Trang (5) Phum Duang (6) Ping (7) Kui Buri (8) Chee(9) Mae Klong (10) Nan (11) Lower Tapee.

Current Situation
Thailand State ofPollution Report 2021
October2022

Current Situation

Overview of Problematic Industry

https://workpermit.co.th/blog/4-technologies-that-will-disrupt-the-petrochemical-industry/

https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/5513/textile-effluent-treatment-an-ecofriendly-approach

1. High Risk Industry Group 2. High Pollution Industry GroupFrequent accident such as
petrochemical industry, ethanolindustry, sugar industry and cold
storage industry.

Has difficulty comply with effluent
standard such as starch industry,
textile Pulp and paper industry andleather tanning industry.
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3. Low Capacity for Environmental
Management Group
Discharge wastewater without
treatment such as small industry(SME) and community factoryLaws and Regulations
Industrial Wastewater Quality
Standards and Monitoring
Mechanism

Core Value

Ministry of Natural Resourceand Environment (MoNRE)

Accuracy, Fairness, Teamwork,
Prompt Situation and Public Benefit
VisionEnhancement and Conservationof National Environmental
Quality Act (NEQA 1992)

Pollution Control Department(PCD)

Pollution Control Department Protect environment, control and solve pollution
problem to make environmental quality within the standard by 2026.

Mission

1. To develop an appropriate standards, tools and mechanism for pollution management inrelation to economic, social and technological phenomenon.
2. To enhance staff’s capacity, information technology and innovation on pollution management.
3. To communicate, expand cooperation and strengthen stakeholder’s participation on pollutionmanagement.
4. To control, supervise and develop environmental laws regarding to pollution management.
5. To coordinate cooperation on pollution management with related organizations both nationaland international levels.

Relative Organizations for Industrial wastewater management in Thailand

Pollution Control Department

Industry Department

Public Health Department

Enhancement and conservation of National
Environmental Act (NEQA 1992)

Factory Act (FA 1992 and 2018) andSubstance Act (HAS 1992).

Public Health Act (PHA 1992).

Other such as Ministry of Labor D–EOccupationaland Environment Act (OSHE 2011)
S I G N E D B Y G RSafety,
A P H I C BHealthULBThai Environmental Standards for Industry
Effluent Standards
Wastewater Effluent General std.
Wastewater Effluent Specific Std.
Water Reuse Guideline

Ambient Standards
Surface Water Quality Std.
Coastal Water Quality Std.
Ground Water Quality Std.
Ambient Air Std.
VOCs in Ambient Air Std.
Ambient Noise Std.
Vibration from Mining and Quarry Std.

General Emission std.
Emission Std. For Waste Incinerators
Emission Std. For Mining and Quarry
Emission Std. For Cement Plants
Emission Std. For Gasoline Terminals

DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBCurrent ProblemInspection and Compliance
DIW is the main role ofinspection. In case ofcomplaint, PCD always
contact DIW firstly before
starting inspection
procedure.

Operating Control Mechanism
Normally, if PCD find afactory not following the eff.
Std., PCD passes theinformation to DIW because
DIW authorizes all factories.

Renewing Factory group
DIW authorizes the factory
which operates machines 50HP up or 50 labors. The restof factory are under localgovernment.

Insufficient Potential
Local government is lack ofofficer to inspect all medium
and small factories. This is
the serious concern how tocontrol them.

DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBChallenges in Monitoring
Number of factories
Approximately 140,000 factories in 77
provinces but only 3 inspections officers
per province for DIW and 40 officers for
PCD
Laboratory availability
Requires accredited laboratory.
Expenditure conditions.

Insufficient Monitoring tools
Effluent from factory requires tools orequipment more than pH/SCT meter.

Monitoring mechanism
In some cases, PCD is asked to monitor
along DIW or other agencies just becauseof confirmation.

Environmental awarenessSome factory owners are lack ofenvironmental awareness/ethics.

Data Exchanging
Between government agencies is notcommon thus there are some repetitiveworks.

Findsolutiontools
D E S Iout
G N E Dthe
BY G
R A P H I C B Uand
LB

Countermeasures
Current mitigation forproblems, Technologies andNeeds.
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Green Industry
Improvement and focus on social
responsibility which supports
sustainable development policy.
Permit system
Pollution sources must register fordischarging permit.
Control measure for small and community industry
Using Best Practical Control
Technology (BPT) or specific eff. Std.
for this kind of industry.
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Eff. Std. Improvement
Development of industry-specificeffluent control std. such slaughter
industry, power plant etc.
Authorized Third Party
In order to reduce the gap of lacking
officers to monitor, Authorized Third
Party will support this duty.
Community Network
Monitoring industry surrounding bycommunity network via application orother communication process.

Green Industry
The definition of Green Industry must be an establishment, which has continuous
improvement and corporate social responsibility, seek sustainable development,
thereby involving its supply chain in the development, in order to grow or advance
together.
Continue
Improvement

GreenIndustryCorporate
SocialResponsibility

DIW separate the establishments into 5 levels .

DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBMoNRE Decree on Industrial Effluent
Control Standards B.E. 2559 (2016)
Former Industrial Ctl Eff. Std.

- MOSTE’s 4th decree B.E. 2539 (1996) on
designated type of factory and industrial
estate as pollution source which effluent
to water resource must be controlled on
3rd January 1996
- MOSTE’s 3rd decree B.E. 2539 (1996) oneffluent standard from factory andindustrial estate pollution source on 3rdJanuary 1996

Practical problem- Too many parameters to monitor,- Some parameters are not necessary
for some factory type,- New substances has been appliedin production line, but not in thestd.

Further work
After General Eff. Std. had beeneffective, announced 3 specific eff.
Std. for Pulp and paper, Leather
tanning and Desalination (Approved onSep. 2017)

Find the solution- Began Drafting the new Industrial
Effluent Ctl. Std.
- Announced on June 6th 2016 –
effective on June 6th 2017

Effluent Standard Improvement
DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBPermit system (beginning phase)
PCD

Authorization agency

Local Government• Study of carrying capacity,• Assess BOD Loading from pollution sources,• Prepare environmental management knowledge,• Integrate Public participation• Improve Laws and regulations related to permit system• Link information of pollution emission from point sources,• Encourage point sources owners apply clean technology,• Encourage CDM/VSPP/waste utilization,• Monitor effluent to meet standards.
• Practice to monitor effluent quality,• Study laws and regulations related to Permit system
DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBAuthorized Third Party (concept)
Hire

Point source owner

Authorized Third Party

1. Audit and certify
2. Prepare report

Inform the result

Government agency

3. Inform the owner

DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBControl measure for small and community industry- Applying Best Practical Control Technology (BPT),- Establishment the specific effluent Standards for thiskind of industry,- Set guideline or code of practice for small andcommunity industry

DESIGNED BY GRAPHICBULBCommunity Network- In Thailand, there are many networks to protect their rivers,- Government supports and trains volunteers and afterward being Local
Environment Volunteer,- LEV can contact Provincial Offices for Natural Resources andEnvironment in each province or call PCD at 1650.

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Adopting trusted standards and risk assessments

Local level

Nationallevel

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Internationallevel

Thank You