Bangkok – The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has issued a statement warning the public to be careful of stormwater polluting water sources during the rainy season.
PCD Director-General Sunee Piyapanpong explained that rainfall at the beginning of the season will wash out wastewater and other substances that accumulate in sewers or farmlands during the dry season. The runoff, also known as stormwater, can reduce oxygen levels in water, increase sedimentation, and lead to rapid changes in temperature that are dangerous to marine wildlife and the ecosystem.
Past surveys of water sources from April to June each year indicate that water quality is suitable for industrial purposes, but not for human consumption. The decrease in oxygen and increase in sediment can also lead to mass fish deaths. The public can help mitigate the impact of stormwater by deploying water aerators to increase dissolved oxygen and refrain from feeding fish on rainy days to reduce accumulated waste.
Director-General Sunee also asked that all sectors help maintain good water quality during the rainy season by disposing of chemicals and hazardous materials safely. Signs of chemical leakage or water contamination can be reported to the department’s hotline, 1650.
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