Phuket

Drinking water system heads to northern Phuket

Published

7 years ago

May 23, 2012

Drinking water system heads to northern Phuket | The Thaiger

PHUKET: The Phuket Waterworks Authority has revealed a plan to provide public water fountains throughout Mai Khao as a pilot project in rolling out potable water supply to the northern parts of the island.

Pichai Wetchrungsri, Deputy Director of the Phuket Waterworks Authority, announced the news earlier this month at a meeting at Provincial Hall, where he explained that the plan was inspired by the drinking fountain at Loma Park in Patong.

“This year we plan to provide clean drinking water to the central and northern parts of the island,” Mr Pichai said.

He explained to the Phuket Gazette that the project will focus first on providing public water fountains in Mai Khao, as the northern end of the island is considered the “Gateway to Phuket”.

“There are also some important facilities in the area, such as Phuket International Airport, and soon the Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Center,” he said.

“However, we have yet to decide on where to establish the supply point for the central parts of the island,” he added.

Mr Pichai said the water would be purified and then delivered to the drinking fountains through new polyester pipes that his office has been installing across Mai Khao for the past eight years, replacing the old PVC water mains.

“In the past we used PVC pipes, which were joined together with PVC glue. This glue sometimes did not provide a tight seal, so water occasionally would be contaminated,” Mr Pichai explained.

The new polyester pipes are joined by much tighter-fitting seals, greatly reducing the risk of the water being contaminated, he added.

The new pipes are being used in the 40-million-baht extension of local government water mains from Baan Pon, just south of Thalang Town, to Baan Mak Prok School, located near the eastern end of the runway at Phuket Airport.

The project will allow local communities in the north of Phuket to start hooking up their local water networks to the mains and using government water supply in their homes in Srisoonthorn, Thepkrasattri and Mai Khao subdistricts.

Connecting with the local water mains network from the Ban Jo water treatment plant – which is currently under construction to treat water from the Bang Neaw Dum reservoir – the new pipes are being laid alongside the southbound lane of Thepkrasattri Road from the 16km road marker to the 30km marker.

Pornthep Bunyapaluek, an engineer at the Phuket office of the Royal Irrigation Project, said the project is aimed at resolving recurring water shortages suffered by residents in the north.

Mr Pichai maintains that the government water supply is safe to drink – in some areas.

“We have been replacing the water mains pipes since 1998. So those areas being supplied by water treated at the government water treatment plants and delivered by the new pipes have safe drinking water,” he said.

In addition to the Bang Jo water treatment plant that is currently under construction, the Phuket Waterworks Authority is also looking into setting up a water treatment plant at the Klong Krata Dam in Chalong in order to provide drinking-quality water to residents in those areas.

“The Bang Niew Dum reservoir will supply water for the north of the island, especially during the construction of the Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Center,” Mr Pichai said.

BUT IS IT SAFE TO DRINK?

The heads of the two major waterworks agencies in Phuket say their water is safe to drink after it leaves the treatment plant and arrives at your tap, but some experts warn otherwise.

Brad Kenny, an environmental engineer and managing director of Environmental Solutions & Protection company on the bypass road, previously told the Gazette in a special report that he believes water from the plants meets international drinking-water standards.

However, he expressed concern about tap water becoming contaminated between the treatment plant and the tap.

“Once water leaves the water treatment plant, here in Phuket or in your home country, no one has total control over all of the places that it could become re-contaminated: the water mains, the plumbing… and most of all, your own water storage tank.

“The best way to ensure that the water at your home is drinking quality is to be sure your own supply pipes are in good order and of good quality, along with quarterly cleaning and disinfecting of any water storage tanks you have,” he advised.

— Orawin Narabal & K Mueanhawon

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Crime

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft

Published

14 hours ago

October 18, 2019

Greeley Pulitzer

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Patong Police

Patong Police have yet to develop any tangible leads tracking down a foreigner who made off with US$30,000 in cash from a currency exchange booth in Kalim, north of Patong in Phuket, last Tuesday.

The man is about 168 centimetres tall with grey hair and around 60 years old, Patong police told The Phuket News.

“We have no clue what nationality he is.”

He was last seen at the currency exchange booth wearing a purple polo shirt, blue jeans and black cap. Police have checked hotels in the area, police stations across the island and Phuket Immigration, but have yet to join the dots and come up with firm leads.

“Investigators have checked CCTV in the area and collected what evidence we have but we still do not know the man’s name or where he was staying.”

The man had visited the booth several times before Tuesday, when he disappeared with the $30,000 in US banknotes, according to police.

“It was always small amounts”, he added, noting that the amounts didn’t warrant staff at the exchange booth to check the man’s passport before making the exchange.

The man arrived at the booth again at about 1pm on Tuesday, saying that he had 900,000 baht cash to exchange.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

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Crime

Mystery surrounds security guard found dead in his Phuket room

Published

1 day ago

October 17, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS: Phuket Hot News

The security guard of a hotel in Nai Yang, northern Phuket, 52 year old Yingyot Butsabong, from Maha Sarakham province, was found dead yesterday (October 16) in his room. Police remain mystified how the man came to grief.

A woman named Supattra received a call from the hotel he worked at and was informed that he didn’t show up at work yesterday, so she went to his apartment to check on him.

She saw that his room was locked from the inside, so used the key she had in her possession to open the room and found Yingyot laying on the floor, face down. She thought he was just sleeping so she tried to wake him up but once she flipped him, she found that he already passed away.

She immediately called Saku police, and once on the scene, police found that there was some blood on the floor. The man had a 2 centimetre wound on his left eyebrow which was deep into his skull. There was also a wound on his chin about 1 centimetre long and about a centimetre deep. His left eye had a bruise which looked like he was attacked by a hard object.

Police report that he had been dead for around four hours in the room.

The room was not ransacked and there was no sign of fighting or theft. His body has been sent to Thalang Hospital for a detailed autopsy and to look into the cause of death.

SOURCE: Phuket Hot News

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People

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people

Published

3 days ago

October 15, 2019

Nattha Thepbamrung

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | The Thaiger

On October 18, the ‘Always Smile Journey’ group and its partners will host an exhibition with plenty of fun activities at the Yak Yai Market, near Chalong Circle, in Phuket. This event was designed to raise funds to provide free English classes for underprivileged people on the island of Phuket on Saturdays and Sundays. The group does not accept donations but aims to raise money through the sales of the products available at the event.

From 2 pm to 8 pm, there will be a number of artists, musicians and performers who will keep the attendees entertained along the way. There will be a short film about His Majesty King Rama 9 as well as fun activities and games for kids and families, which are all free of charge.

The big bike crew is also a part of this event. They will ride a parade from Rawai Beach heading to the market and showcase their gorgeous two-wheel buddies.

One of the highlights of the Always Smile Journey exhibition is the ‘Happening’ artists group, who will draw and paint a picture of the His Majesty King Rama 9 under the name ‘Street Art King Bhumibol’ on a 4×10 meter sign live at the event so the guests will experience this large-scale art in action. The Happening will also offer portrait sketching for the participants.

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | News by The Thaiger

One of the works created by the Happening team; a painting of HM the King Rama 9 on a huge wall (Photo credit: Chawat Chumpasan)

There will also be some western menus available at the event which will be donated to underprivileged children.

This free English class project has over seven years of experience through its cooperation working with individuals and other charity organizations. Throughout the years, the group visited several areas such as Ban Laem Hoy School, Ban Bopud School and Ban Angthong School in Samui, Surat Thani province, Ban Bueng Ao Oun School and Ban Kakoh Rayong, in Surin province, Jalae Village of Lahu (Muser) in Chiang Rai province, as well as community education centers in Siem Reap, Cambodia and in Luang Prabang, in Laos.

This event is a cooperation between several groups, including Happening, Yak Yai Market and Arrow Media, Tattoo artist group, Thonburi Art School Alumni, International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, big bike group from Phuket, artists/performers/musicians from many provinces as well as several businesses across Phuket.

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