Patong tap water declared safe

PATONG: The tap water in the Patong municipal area has been declared safe for drinking. Deputy Interior Minister Sora-at Klinpratoom made the announcement this morning at Loma Public Park on Thaweewong Rd, shortly before taking a drink from one of the three fountains set up to provide free water to thirsty residents and tourists in the area. “I think this program will be very useful for local residents in terms of savings and convenience,” said K. Sora-at. “Tap water costs only about one satang per liter, while a liter of drinking water in the supermarket costs about 10 baht,” he added. Phuket was one of 10 areas in Thailand to be targeted in the Safe Drinking Tap Water Program, a project set up in 1997 by the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) and the Department of Health (DOH). K. Sora-at said, “Because of the large service area of Phuket, the PWA decided to start the program in the Patong municipal area first.” The Patong Waterworks and Patong Municipality have spent the last three years replacing dirty water pipes and sending water samples regularly to the DOH for analysis. Patong’s water has now passed both the Thai Industrial Standard for drinking water and standards set by the World Health Organization.