V/Gov Chamroen pushes for funds for Karon wastewater

PHUKET: Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada vowed yesterday to push for funds to expand Karon’s water treatment facilities as soon as possible.

The vice governor spoke as he inspected the recent efforts of Karon municipality to prevent untreated wastewater in the Nong Han canal from spilling over onto the town’s popular tourist beach as it has already three times this year, most recently about a month ago (story here).

“The municipality has taken the first steps to solve the black water problem by dredging the canal, creating an emergency treatment pond, and installing a net at the canal’s mouth to snare garbage,” he noted.

“The long term solution is to expand the water-treatment plant in Karon,” he acknowledged, adding that he had also asked the Phuket Regional Environmental Office 15 to find a way to improve water flow through the lagoon.

No chemical tests were done on the lagoon water during the governor’s inspection, but V/Gov Chamroen noted that the water there looked cleaner than it did last month.

“The water looks green and black because it’s not flowing, but it’s clean,” the vice governor stated.

“We found small aquatic animals in Nong Harn lagoon. If it is safe for animals, it should be safe for humans,” he said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong