Ms. Preeyaporn Suwanaged, Director General of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), revealed that due to the case that local residents complained to every agency through the media about a fermented fish factory emitting a foul odor and releasing wastewater for 7 years in Ban Dong Subdistrict, Ubonrat District, Khon Kaen Province, but there has been no concrete and sustainable solution, PCD has assigned the Environmental and Pollution Control Office 10 to investigate the situation and collaborate with local agencies such as Ban Dong Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen Provincial Industry Office, Internal Security Operations Command in Khon Kaen Province, and community leaders to address the problem since the beginning of 2023. The source of the foul odor was identified as coming from the fermentation areas, including the warehouse, bottling building, drying area for fermented fish residue, and the wastewater treatment system. The inspection team advised the business operator on how to rectify the issues. The Khon Kaen Provincial Industry Office also required the company to apply for the proper operational permits. A license has been obtained to operate a factory for producing food from aquatic animals and packaging them in sealed, airtight containers on April 12, 2023.

Ms. Preeyaporn said that following up on the progress of the problem-solving process towards the end of 2023, the company has upgraded its wastewater treatment system to a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) with an 80-cubic-meter capacity. The treated wastewater will be used to water pandan plantations in the factory area without draining it outside the factory area. An inspection of the records of Form MNRE.1 and MNRE.2, which must report on the wastewater treatment system, according to Section 80 of the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535, found that there was no reporting in some periods. Therefore, a fine was imposed, which the company has fully paid as of July 2, 2024, and all reports have been completed.

However, as the public continues to file complaints through Damrongtham Center of Khon Kaen about being affected by foul odors, in April 2024, PCD provided advice to the working group to solve the problem by covering the wastewater treatment pond, improving the production process to reduce the foul odor problem, or developing the production process into a closed system, etc. In May 2024, the company stopped production to improve and cover the wastewater treatment pond. Upon inspecting the production process, it was found that the company absorbed odors from the fermented fish boiling process to a spray-water odor treatment system located behind the production building. Recommendations were provided to improve the efficiency of odor absorption from the fish boiling furnace. Additionally, it was recommended to regularly measure the effectiveness of the odor control system, monitor the quality of the air and wastewater discharged into the environment, and report the inspection results to all parties to keep them informed of progress. At present, the company has 1) covered the wastewater treatment pond, 2) improved the wastewater treatment pond to be entirely reinforced concrete, 3) provided tanks and closed all raw material storage containers, 4) improved the production building and enhanced odor absorption efficiency, 5) proposed a plan to upgrade the production process (fermented fish boiling) to a closed system, which is scheduled to be completed within 2024, and 6) will plant vegetation as a buffer zone or odor barrier.

In addition to the fermented fish factory that received complaints, there was also an adjacent fermented fish factory that was inspected and given advice because foul odors were coming from the area where the fermented fish was boiled and the area where the seasoning was boiled, which was still an open boiling process and did not have a system to collect or absorb the odors for disposal. The said business is not classified as an industrial factory under the Factory Act B.E. 2562. Ban Dong Subdistrict Administrative Organization must allow this fermented fish factory to request permission to operate and comply with the conditions of a business that is hazardous to health according to the Public Health Act, BE 2535. PCD has assigned Environmental and Pollution Control Office 10 to monitor the progress of problem-solving operations and provide advice to operators to increase efficiency in controlling production processes and waste treatment to prevent odors and reduce inconvenience to nearby residents, Ms. Preeyaporn said.