PCD reveals plans for new systems, fee schemes,

It has also urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to build three more wastewater treatment systems to lessen pollution in the lower Chao Phya River, where the level of dissolved oxygen in water was only two milligrams per litre.

PCD chief Supat Wangwongwatana said yesterday there were 99 control projects at communities which produce 3.1 million cubic meters of wastewater per day. Of these, seven are in Bangkok ,with 16 other projects still under construction, he said.

Eightynine projects were funded by the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning under provincial environment quality management plans totalling some Bt46 billion. Ten others were funded by the Office of Environmental Fund or the central budget at a total of Bt28.2 billion.

Supat said in principle, water polluters are required to pay, but only seven communities are doing so because local authorities are still not authorised to issue regulations and collect fees. As a result, many projects could not operate due to a lack of operational funds.

Those that could collect such fees were; Muang Saensuk, Muang Sriracha and Muang Pattaya municipalities in Chon Buri; Rayong's Tambon Ban Phae municipality; Songkhla's Nakhon Hat Yai municipality; Phuket's Karon municipality; and Sakhon Nakhon's Tambon Tha Rae municipality.

To promote water saving and clean technology to reduce wastewater, the PCD will also amend related laws allowing local authorities to collect wastewater and garbage fees, Supat said.

This month, the PCD will submit to the Pollution Control Committee standards identifying wastewater from communities and municipality sewage as pollution sources that needed wastewater treatment before being released into rivers. The rule should be in effect late this year, he said.

PCD also worked with five local administration organisations to draft wastewater treatment fees to submit to the Pollution Control Committee on October 27, Supat said. The fees covered four sources of pollution including resident homes, government offices, state enterprises and foundations as well as business and industry operators.

Asked why Bangkok has been unable to collect such fees, Supat said collection was based on the Bangkok Governor's policy. He said lower Chao Phya River water quality in 20072008 had deteriorated with a level of dissolved oxygen in water of only two milligrams per litre. To restore it to the four milligrams per litre level, Bangkok needed three more wastewater treatment systems at Thon Buri, Khlong Toei and Bang Sue, which were planned by the previous government, he said.

These combined with seven projects could support over two million cubic meters of wastewater directed to the Chao Phya River, he said.