Mr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), revealed that PCD under the Center for Administration and Coordination to Help Flood Victims of MNRE has been monitoring the problem of flooding at solid waste disposal sites and municipal wastewater collection and treatment plants, which may cause trouble for the people. According to the policy of H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, PCD has coordinated with local government organizations that have solid waste disposal sites and are in flood risk areas to 1) implement the guidelines for managing solid waste in flood conditions 2) prepare a reserved area (or waste management area of nearby local administrative organizations) to support solid waste collection during the solid waste disposal sites are flooded 3) consider the construction of a barrier around the solid waste disposal site to be higher than the water level previously 4) prepare backup manpower to collect solid waste during floods and 5) prepare a plan to move machineries and equipments to the higher area.
Mr. Pinsak said PCD monitored the problem of flooding in solid waste disposal sites and municipal wastewater collection and treatment plants in risky areas and found that nine solid waste disposal sites were affected, namely Singburi Town Municipality, Singburi Province, Khao Phra Ngam Subdistrict Municipality, Lopburi Province, Nakhon Luang Subdistrict Municipality, Mae La Subdistrict Municipality, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Nong Ung Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Sisaket Province, Yawuk Subdistrict Municipality Don Rad Subdistrict Municipality, Surin Province, and Rai Tai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Tha Hai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Ubon Ratchathani Province. However, there are measures to prevent solid waste in the solid waste disposal site from spreading to neighboring areas and measures for taking solid waste to be managed at nearby solid waste disposal sites. There are 7 municipal wastewater treatment plants that have been reported to Database System for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (DSPOT), including Tha Tako Subdistrict Municipality, Nakhon Sawan Province, Sappaya Subdistrict Municipality Chainat Province (2 places), Saraburi Town Municipality, Kosum Phisai Subdistrict Municipality, Maha Sarakham Province, Ubon Ratchathani City Municipality and Warin Chamrap Municipality, Ubon Ratchathani Province.
After the flood, local government organizations will inspect and improve damaged solid waste disposal sites. In addition, the local government organizations will survey the damage of machineries, equipments and electrical systems of pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants for further maintenance. PCD has provided staff, field water quality monitoring equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicles to survey water quality after floods or areas with prolonged flooding. Moreover, PCD provided bio-fermented water to combat the odor after the floods receded. However, people affected by flooding can call the hotline 1650, Mr. Pinsak said.
