Experts warn of wastewater in Gulf of Thailand

Discharged wastewater present in the Gulf of Thailand could harm the whales that live off the coast of Ban Laem district, a conservation group has warned.

Manu Aranphan, leader of a Bryde's whale conservation group, has warned that the wastewater could prove harmful to marine life in the area, including whales, the Bangkok post reports.

This wastewater is discharged from industrial plants in upstream provinces like Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon. While the amount of wastewater present is admittedly relatively small, there is still enough there to impact on the marine environment.

The situation is thought to be worse at present as run-off water from the north flows heavily into the gulf during October and November.

Mr Aranphan revealed that some factories ask the ships that transport their goods to take on their wastewater and dump it in the sea, and the dirty foam caused by this can be seen for several kilometres on the sea's surface.

The expert called for authorities to combat this issue before it gets worse.

These are not the only worries about the waters of the Ban Laem coast. Phetchaburi governor Monthian Thongnit recently said that the area was a disaster area after an ammonia gas spill destroyed plankton in the region.

It also killed off valuable mussels and blood cockles in the area that had been raised by local farmers, and caused damage equating to at least 100 million baht.

However, it is hoped that measures put in place will solve the issue within three months.

Locals affected by the ammonia gas spill will receive 45,000 baht in compensation per rai, although this will be capped at a maximum of five rai.