A meeting chaired by Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday (Feb 4) brought together representatives from government agencies, the private sector and related organisations to discuss guidelines for managing wastewater generated from landfills.
Officials agreed in principle to develop and upgrade the province’s landfill leachate treatment system, noting the approach would bring clear environmental benefits to Phuket. A site visit was proposed to assess the feasibility of introducing new technology and improving existing facilities.
During the discussion, participants raised the possibility of reusing treated wastewater, including for non-potable purposes, as part of a water recycling system. The meeting noted that converting treated leachate into drinking water would likely be too costly at present, but improving water quality for safe reuse and restoring polluted public water sources were seen as realistic goals.
The President of the Phuket Provincial Industrial Council and private-sector representatives stressed the importance of sustainable waste and wastewater management, highlighting the need to balance investment costs, operational requirements and treatment efficiency to ensure any new system is practical and financially viable.
The meeting also heard a presentation from AST Ambiente, a Portuguese company specialising in landfill leachate treatment technology. The company proposed a compact reverse osmosis system using high-pressure membrane filtration, installed in a container or trailer unit.
The system is designed for use in remote areas, can be controlled automatically and via mobile phone, and is capable of recycling treated wastewater for reuse. The proposed investment cost was estimated at about B30 million.
Provincial officials said the meeting marked an important step towards developing a more systematic approach to landfill leachate management in Phuket, aimed at addressing environmental problems, reducing impacts on nearby communities and supporting the province’s long-term sustainable development goals.