• At the present time, water quality in various water resources throughout the country, including surface water, ground water and seawater are deteriorated, particularly in crowded communities and developmental activities, due to contamination of toxic substances from human activities, including community activities as a result of economic growth and industrial, agricultural, and tourism developments. In particular the physical and biological characteristics of water resources and the ecological balance of the water resources system, have been changed, resulting in impacts on resource utilization, pollution or other deterioration of resource. These characteristics appear as loss of dissolved oxygen (DO), presence of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total coliform bacteria (TCB).
  
  
• Water quality in principal rivers have followed a continuously decreasing trend during the period 1989-1994, particularly in areas of the lower Chao Praya River and the lower Tha Chin River. The degradation of water quality in these areas was over the Class 4 Surface Water Quality Standards (for consumable water), namely: DO less than 2 mg/l, BOD over 4 mg/l, and total coliform bacteria over 20,000 MPN/100 ml. In some areas, for instance the outlet of Phra Khanong Canal, during the drought in 1994, the water quality was quality was in crisis, namely: DO was nearly 0, BOD was about 2.4 mg/l, and total coliform bacteria was as high as 770,000 MPN/100 ml. The water resources and principal rivers in the other regions, such as the Kwae Yai River, Lopburi River, Pong River, Sakaekrang River, and Bueng Boraphet, also are vulnerable to degradation. Water quality in Maeklong, Bangpakong, Phasak, Phetchaburi, Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan Rivers are periodically deteriorated and polluted, especially in the dry season. Ground water has begun to become contaminated by wastewater from solid waste piles, and residual from agricultural chemicals with toxic residues.
  
  
• Further, coastal water quality in important tourist sites such as Chonburi Bay, Loy Island, Pattaya Beach, and Bangsaen in Chonburi province, and Phuket province, is lower than the standards for swimming, which consists of total coliform bacteria over 19,000 MPN/ml (standard value is equal to 1,000 MPN/ml).



• The water quality in these water bodies is degraded and deterioration is expected to accelerate and continuously cover more areas. This will about as a result of a population growth; expansion and dispersement of industry to regions, without standards management and control of water pollution; livestock raising and aquaculture farming, which are sources of high load wastewater and lack appropriate management system; and, diminishing amount of natural water supply, resulting from forest destruction. Importantly, existing administration and management are not effective, including of unity and good coordination, and a solid legal framework and measures for efficient monitoring and controlling water pollution at source are lacking, particularly in agriculture sector. The capacities of concerned institutions are limited in terms of budget and personnel. Also lacking are socio-economic incentives to persuade the private sector and owner of point sources of pollution to seriously reduce pollution and to treat solid wastes the production process.

Goal

1. The water quality of surface water that is degraded is improving.
   
   
   • The lower Chao Phraya River has a DO of not less than 4 mg/l, and tributaries contain an average DO of not less than 2 mg/l by the year 2006. In addition, water quality will not be allowed to decline from existing state.
   • The lower Thachin River has an average DO of not less than 4 mg/l and tributaries have embrace not less than 2 mg/l.
   • Main rivers flowing through urban areas have a water quality not less than designated Surface Water Quality Standards.
     
     
2. Seawater quality in coastal areas throughout the country should follow designated Coastal Water Quality Standards. First priority should be given to important tourist in coastal areas and the upper Gulf of Thailand.

Policy and Implementation Guidelines

Policy

Accelerate the rehabilitation of water quality in important water sources throughout the country. Reduce and control water pollution originating from community activities, agriculture, and industry. Producers of polluted water must be responsible for paying for the management of water pollution. Promote and support private sector participation in co-investing and management to solve water pollution problem.

Guidelines

1. Management Guidelines

	Control water pollution origination from communities in all 25 watersheds in the country, by prioritizing their importance, including formulating measures and action plans for practical and concrete implementation.
	Prepare emergency action plans and accident prevention plans for prevention and mitigation of damages of spreading pollution and polluted environment, which cause impacts on water quality and water resources.
	Strictly control land use to control encroachment in riparian areas and along coastal areas.
	Decentralize power and responsibility and increasing capacity to provincial and local personnel for effective control of wastewater from point source and water pollution at provincial and local levels.
	Monitor, check, and evaluate water quality in water sources and management of water pollution continuously and systematically by collaboration and cooperation among concerned agencies.
	Strengthen mechanisms and the capacity of institutions for effective control of water pollution and waste from point source by emphasizing socio-economic measures at the same time as using law enforcement measures.
	Designate raw water sources for pipe water, and areas vulnerable to serious water pollution, as pollution control zones; and formulate action plans to control and rehabilitate water quality to suit the utilization.
	Support establishment of industrial estates for industries generating polluted water, and formulate measures to tightly control and eradicate the spread of water pollution.
	Prepare appropriate land areas to be used for wastewater treatment over the long-term, including designating areas reserved for treatment of community wastewater in city plans.

2. Investment Guidelines

	Establish central wastewater collection and treatment systems in communities located in municipalities and sanitary districts throughout the country, with a support of private sector participation in these activities.
	Promote and encourage local governments, state enterprises, and the private sectors, to invest in the construction of central wastewater collection and treatment systems by increasing counterpart fund for the Environmental Fund as required.
	Accelerate a strict and continuous enforcement of measures for collection of fees for wastewater treatment, by assigning local government or agencies with direct responsibility to perform this collection task.

3. Legal Guidelines

	Designate and improve water quality standards in important water bodies and effluent standards from various sources, as appropriate and in prompt response to situations.
	Designate and improve categories and sizes of sources of wastewater or activities that discharge wastewater that should be controlled, including formulating criteria and conditions to continuously control and monitor discharge of wastewater.
	Strengthen the capacity of technicians, facilities, equipment, and the legal framework to support activities specified by laws of local officials.
	Amend related laws to support solving of water pollution problem, and accelerate establishment of laws, regulations, and orders for reducing and controlling water pollution as designated target.

4. Supporting Guidelines

	Support and collaborate with the private sector and other organizations to undertake campaigns and public relations, for the public and operators or owners of commercial facilities to gain knowledge, understand and participate in responsible for the management of water quality and control of wastewater discharge at its origin.
	Support education and research for development and encouragement of efficient water quality management technologies and controlling discharge of wastewater at source, including support the use of research results for practical implementation.
	Reduce more taxes on imported machinery, equipment, facilities, supplies, and materials for use in the treatment of wastewater as incentives and to encourage participation in undertaking wastewater management