The B346 million contract includes drains from Soi Bangtao 2, Soi Bangtao 8, Lagoon St, Soi Huatiew (Moo 3) and Soi Ao Bangtao 4
In April this year, the filthy black outflow from the klong, at the southern end of Bangtao Bay, was so polluted that local fishermen claimed it was giving them skin rashes when they waded out to their boats.
Tourists foresook the sand at that end of the bay because of the stench.
Local businesses – hotels, restaurants and laundries – were blamed for illegally dumping untreated waste water into the slow-moving waters of the klong. Warnings seemed to make no difference.
“When the black water spills across Bangtao Beach, it not only pollutes the environment [around it] but also the ocean,” said a local engineering official who asked not to be named.
Ma’an Samran, Chief Executive of Cherngtalay OrBorTor told The Phuket News, “Because of the problems on Bangtao beach, drains will be laid to collect the waste water for treatment.
“I have received lots of complaints from various people about the construction. But we are laying the drains underground, and this [when finished] will, I hope, be more convenient for those who use these streets.”
The water that comes out of the treatment plant will not be totally pure, Mr Ma’an said. “The aim is to process the water to [the equivalent] of grey water. We can use this in Cherng Talay for watering plants and cleaning roads.”