A video clip of the polluted water being released into the canal at Yaowarat Bridge in Samkong has gone viral after Kanawut Boonsong posted the video on his Facebook page along with a message to local authorities requesting they find the source of the water.
More than 600 people have seen the video including Phuket City Deputy Mayor, Thaworn Jirapattanasopon, who said that immediately after seeing the video he ordered officials to investigate and collect a sample of the water.
“The water is as black as ink, but I can confirm that this foul water belongs to Rassada Municipality. It is not coming from the City Municipality,” he said.
“Rassada Municipality are releasing polluted water from Soi Panieng Moo 5 in Rassada into the Phuket City pipeline without treatment it. It then goes into Klong Bang Yai.
“This has once again caused great distress to local residents living in the area,” he added.
Mr Thaworn went on to say, “Rassada Municipality does not have a wastewater treatment facility, so Phuket City Municipality has set aside B60 million from next year’s budget to this water pollution problem. Construction of the wastewater treatment facility will begin next year.
“Until the facility is completed, Phuket City Municipality is allowing Rassada Municipality to release its wastewater via the City Municipality pipe for the next five years so we can treat the water before it is released into the canal. This is a temporary solution until the facility is complete,” he concluded.