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186350
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 15:49
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http://m.oananews.org//node/186350
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Polluted water in Ayutthaya not affect Bangkok tap water production
BANGKOK, June 3 (TNA) - The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) has confirmed that water polluted by a sunken sugar barge in Thailand's central Ayutthaya Province does not affect the production of tap water in Bangkok, as measures have now been in place to cope with the incident.
The MWA insisted on Friday that its tap water production has not been affected by the recent incident in Ayutthaya, but it is aware that the polluted water, which has been considerably dissolved by sugar, will reach its Sam-lae water pumping station in Bangkok's suburban Pathum Thani Province by Saturday morning. Therefore, the authority has now closed its water gates to elevate the level of the Prapa Canal so that it is higher than the level of the Chao Phraya River and the polluted water in the river will not flow into the canal, which supplies water for the tap water production in metropolitan areas.
The MWA acknowledged that it will also install aerators in the Prapa Canal by Friday night and will run the machines if the level of dissolved oxygen in the canal drops below 2.0 milligrams per liter, which indicates polluted water, and that the state-run authority is confident the measures can protect its tap water production.
Meanwhile, Thai caretaker prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he has already ordered officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ayutthaya governor to speed up the removal of the sunken barge, which has blocked the current of the Chao Praya River and caused fast erosion to local people’s houses on a bank and has also ordered quick rehabilitation for affected people.
Abhisit noted that concerned officials will keep monitoring water quality and issuing warnings on the pollution, which has affected fish, and that people who raise fish in floating cages in the Chao Phraya River will be compensated; while aerators will be used to add oxygen in the river to minimize damages. The caretaker premier said that officials concerned will also pump sugar out of the sunken barge to speed up its removal.
Abhisit vowed that the company which causes the problem will have to take responsibility by law because such the incident used to happen once in 2007, saying that the compensation will cover houses and fish farms.
The barge carrying 2,400 tons of brown sugar sank in the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya on May 31 and the sugar has dissolved the water and its dissolved oxygen level has plunged. The pollution has reached Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi Provinces so far.
Thai caretaker natural resources and environment minister Suwit Khunkitti is inspecting the scene and the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Department of Fishery will reportedly take legal action against the barge company. (TNA)
The MWA insisted on Friday that its tap water production has not been affected by the recent incident in Ayutthaya, but it is aware that the polluted water, which has been considerably dissolved by sugar, will reach its Sam-lae water pumping station in Bangkok's suburban Pathum Thani Province by Saturday morning. Therefore, the authority has now closed its water gates to elevate the level of the Prapa Canal so that it is higher than the level of the Chao Phraya River and the polluted water in the river will not flow into the canal, which supplies water for the tap water production in metropolitan areas.
The MWA acknowledged that it will also install aerators in the Prapa Canal by Friday night and will run the machines if the level of dissolved oxygen in the canal drops below 2.0 milligrams per liter, which indicates polluted water, and that the state-run authority is confident the measures can protect its tap water production.
Meanwhile, Thai caretaker prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he has already ordered officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ayutthaya governor to speed up the removal of the sunken barge, which has blocked the current of the Chao Praya River and caused fast erosion to local people’s houses on a bank and has also ordered quick rehabilitation for affected people.
Abhisit noted that concerned officials will keep monitoring water quality and issuing warnings on the pollution, which has affected fish, and that people who raise fish in floating cages in the Chao Phraya River will be compensated; while aerators will be used to add oxygen in the river to minimize damages. The caretaker premier said that officials concerned will also pump sugar out of the sunken barge to speed up its removal.
Abhisit vowed that the company which causes the problem will have to take responsibility by law because such the incident used to happen once in 2007, saying that the compensation will cover houses and fish farms.
The barge carrying 2,400 tons of brown sugar sank in the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya on May 31 and the sugar has dissolved the water and its dissolved oxygen level has plunged. The pollution has reached Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi Provinces so far.
Thai caretaker natural resources and environment minister Suwit Khunkitti is inspecting the scene and the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Department of Fishery will reportedly take legal action against the barge company. (TNA)
