Karon black water strikes again, flows across trash-covered beach

PHUKET: The Karon black water saga continued today as a fresh wave of rank, dirty water flowed over a long line of trash that has also been cursing the beach.

“This is a failure on the part of Karon Municipality. I have not seen them do anything to try to resolve the problem,” said Karon Subdistrict Chief (Kamnan) Winai Chidchiew.

“Previously, the issue was just the black water. But today [sic], we found a lot of garbage on the beach as well. If the municipality could provide trash cans and promote their usage, I believe we would not have this garbage problem.”

Kamnan Winai explained that the line of garbage along the beach is caused by people leaving trash behind on the sand.

“People leave their garbage on the beach every day. When it is high tide, the water drags that trash into the sea. Then when it is low tide, it is left in rows along the beach,” he said.

“Please, if you come here, try to leave the beach safe and clean.”

Meanwhile, tourists at Karon Beach are concerned about the bacteria-ridden water and their health.

“It is a very crazy situation. I cannot go swimming because I think it is dangerous for my health,” said an Estonian tourist who declined to be named.

“It is smelly and black, which is not good for Phuket as a tourist destination.”

The first wave of black water washed over Karon Beach on February 24 (story here).

Then on March 13, Karon Municipality signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to temporarily relinquish control of waste water management in the area to the Waste Water Management Authority of Thailand (WMA) (story here).

— Saran Mitrarat