The King's Project, Laem Phak Bia, Thailand
Lowcost Technology to Solve Environmental Problems
Laem Phak Bia, on the coast of Petchaburi Province in southern Thailand, is the site of an exciting new project. One of the many projects established by His Majesty the King of Thailand, its purpose is to solve environmental problems such as solid waste disposal, wastewater pollution and the deterioration of coastal mangrove swamps.
Coastal Site
The area is sandy and low-lying, with stretches of mudflat. Before the project began, there was nothing but deserted salt farmlands and deteriorated mangrove forest.
Wastewater from the munipality of Petchaburi is transferred to the site by a pipeline. Municipal solid waste is sorted, and organic materials are composted. Several methods are used to treat the wastewater. In one, the water enters a sedimentation pond and then a series of five oxidation ponds.
New Opportunities for Local People
The water in the oxidation ponds is clean enough to be used for raising fish. The harvested fish are healthy, and have been tested and passed as suitable for human consumption. The treated wastewater can also be used to irrigate grass which is being cut and fed to cattle.
Another method is grass filtration, in which wastewater is passed through plots of selected grasses. Mangrove forest is also used as a filtration system for wastewater, resulting in the regeneration and expansion of the coastal mangrove zone. This is very useful for local people, for whom fishing is an important industry. Mangroves play a vital role as breeding grounds for many kinds of marine fishes.
Over the last ten years, the various treatment methods have been studied and analyzed, to improve them and see which of them are most cost effective and environmentally friendly. They are now being extended to other parts of Thailand.
Index of Images
Figure 1 Plots Used for Grass Filtration of Wastewater Piped from Petchaburi, Thailand
Figure 2 Regenerated Mangrove Forest
