Bronte Wells
The Chao Phraya River, also known as the River of Kings, is considered the lifeblood of Bangkok, serving as a major transport route for the city's eight million residents. However, the river has been facing a significant pollution problem that threatens its role as a vital waterway. With a length of 370 kilometres, the Chao Phraya River is one of Thailand's longest and most polluted rivers, receiving a vast amount of plastic waste, organic pollutants, and heavy metals from various sources. The river's pollution has become so severe that it has started to impact the local tourism industry and the health of the surrounding aquatic life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | 370 kilometres |
| Pollution sources | Human, industrial, and agricultural waste |
| Number of polluting households | 9 million |
| Number of polluting factories | 20,000 |
| Number of polluting agricultural areas | 5,853 square kilometres |
| Total coliform bacteria (TCB) | 1.6 million units (MPN per 100 millilitres) |
| Average TCB level in the past decade | 200,000 units |
| Acceptable TCB level | 4,000 to 20,000 units |
| Heavy metals found | Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, Mo |
| Plastic waste | Microplastics, plastic bags, plastic sandbags, polystyrene fragments |
| Other waste | Old flip-flops, banana leaves, metal bento boxes |
| Number of ferries | Over 50,000 |
| Number of canals and waterways | Over 1,600 |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste
The Chao Phraya River is one of Thailand's longest and most polluted rivers. It spans 370 kilometres through Thailand before reaching Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. The river is often treated as a catch-all waste disposal unit, with plastic waste being one of the major pollutants.
The use of plastic in Thailand has increased over the years, with around 2 million tonnes of plastic waste being created annually in the country. This waste comes from various sources, such as single-use plastic bags, plastic containers, and plastic cutlery used for takeaway food. The plastic waste from these sources ends up in the Chao Phraya River, either directly or through adjoining canals and waterways.
One of the main sources of plastic pollution in the river is the Lat Phrao Canal, which was built to drain rainwater from Bangkok into the Chao Phraya. The canal collects solid and liquid waste as it passes through the dense urban areas of the city. Residents along the canal also use it as a convenient rubbish dump, contributing to the plastic pollution in the river.
Another source of plastic pollution in the Chao Phraya River is aquaculture. Fish farms along the river use plastic nets and floats that slowly disintegrate, releasing microplastics into the water. In addition, the washing of synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon releases microfibres, a type of microplastic that escapes even during wastewater treatment.
The plastic pollution in the Chao Phraya River has negative impacts on both the environment and local industries. The plastic waste breaks down into microplastics, which are consumed by marine life, leading to health issues and even death. For example, in 2018, a pilot whale was found dead in southern Thailand after swallowing 80 plastic bags. The pollution also affects tourism in the area, as tourists are turned off by the dirty sight of plastic debris along the river.
To combat the plastic pollution in the Chao Phraya River, organisations like TerraCycle Global Foundation and The Ocean Cleanup have intervened. TerraCycle Global Foundation works to capture plastic waste along rivers and canals before it flows into the ocean, while The Ocean Cleanup has deployed an 'Interceptor' craft to collect plastic debris from the river. These efforts aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the river and mitigate its environmental and economic impacts.
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Heavy metal pollution
The sources of these heavy metals are varied. Metals can occur naturally through the weathering of rocks, but anthropogenic activities are a significant contributor. Agricultural practices such as fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide usage, as well as industrial discharge and mining operations, introduce heavy metals into the river. Over 30,000 industrial establishments are present in the Chao Phraya River basin, and their activities contribute to the river's pollution.
The impact of heavy metal pollution is far-reaching. It affects water quality, ecosystem health, and human well-being. The pollution has been found to accumulate in soil and plankton on the riverbed and the inner Gulf of Thailand, which has resulted in toxic contamination in aquatic species, ultimately impacting humans through the food chain.
Seasonal variations in heavy metal concentrations have also been observed, with the dry season experiencing higher levels of pollution. During this period, the hazard potential index (HPI) exceeded the critical threshold, indicating the presence of heavy metal pollution in the water and rendering it unsuitable for consumption.
Microplastics pollution has also been identified in the Chao Phraya River, with studies investigating the interaction between microplastics and heavy metals in the river's sediment and surface water. The presence of microplastics further complicates the issue of heavy metal pollution, as they can absorb and release heavy metals, potentially increasing their bioavailability and toxicity.
Addressing heavy metal pollution in the Chao Phraya River is crucial to protect the environment and human health. While some studies indicate that the levels of certain heavy metals remain within Thailand's acceptable standards, the potential ecological and human health risks are significant, and future actions must focus on preventing and managing heavy metal pollution in this vital river ecosystem.
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Organic pollutants
The Chao Phraya River, also known as the "River of Kings", is considered the lifeblood of Bangkok. The river, spanning 370 kilometres, serves as a major transport route for the city's eight million residents, with over 50,000 people using its ferries daily. However, the river is heavily polluted, particularly by organic pollutants.
Every day, the Chao Phraya River receives at least 500 tonnes of organic pollutants in the form of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). One-fifth of these pollutants originate from industrial sources, while the remaining come from domestic and agricultural sources. The river acts as an open sewer for human, industrial, and agricultural waste. The pollution is caused by nine million household residents, operators of 5,853 square kilometres of agricultural areas, and nearly 20,000 factories. The situation is worsening, with the most polluted stretch moving upstream to the Krungthep Bridge.
The high levels of organic pollutants in the river have severe ecological and health implications. The Greenpeace environmental group found high levels of contamination in the soil sediment under the bed of a canal connected to the Chao Phraya River, including eight types of cancer-causing organochlorine substances and ten types of heavy metals. This contamination could adversely affect the health of nearby residents.
The river's pollution also poses risks to aquatic life and the marine ecosystem. As the river flows through densely populated areas, it collects a significant amount of plastic waste, which eventually breaks down into microplastics. These microplastics are consumed by marine animals, causing harm and even death. Additionally, plastic waste from aquaculture activities, such as plastic nets and floats used on fish farms, contributes to the microplastic pollution in the river.
Efforts are being made to address the organic pollution in the Chao Phraya River. The TerraCycle Global Foundation, through the Clean Currents Coalition, is working to prevent plastic pollution in the Lat Phrao Canal, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, by deploying "trash traps" to capture plastic waste. Additionally, the Thai government and non-governmental organisations are collaborating with The Ocean Cleanup to tackle plastic pollution in the river. However, as stated by Suchana from The Ocean Cleanup, the most effective solution is to prevent plastic from entering the waterways in the first place.
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Sewage and wastewater
The Chao Phraya River is often treated as a catch-all waste disposal unit. For much of its 370-kilometre length, it is an open sewer for human, industrial, and agricultural waste. Nine million household residents, operators of 5,853 square kilometres of agricultural areas, and nearly 20,000 factories contribute to the pollution. Every day, at least 500 tonnes of organic pollutants are discharged into the river, one-fifth from industrial sources and the rest from domestic and agricultural sources.
The most polluted stretch of the river used to be between its mouth in Samut Prakan and Klong Toei Port, but it has now moved upstream to the Krungthep Bridge. The level of total coliform bacteria (TCB) at Klong Toei was found to be 1.6 million units (MPN per 100 millilitres), the highest ever recorded and far above the acceptable level of between 4,000 and 20,000 units.
In addition to organic pollutants, the river is contaminated with heavy metals. A study of the Chao Phraya River estuary found significant accumulations of Cd, Cu, Cr, and Pb in the water near the river mouth, which may have long-term impacts on the aquatic environment through the precipitation of heavy metals to the bottom sediments and bioaccumulation in various food chains. The Pb isotope ratios in the river sediments near the centre of Bangkok were similar to those in Bangkok roadside dust and pond sediments, suggesting that the river sediments may be contributed by these sources.
The pollution in the river has a significant impact on the people and wildlife in the surrounding area. Residents of the river have complained about the water pollution to the Pollution Control Department (PCD), but there has been little official response. The wildlife in the river is also affected by the pollution, with animals becoming entangled in plastic debris and mistaking plastic bags for food.
Efforts are being made to improve the situation. The TerraCycle Global Foundation, through its TerraCycle Thai Foundation, operates trash traps in the Lat Phrao Canal to prevent plastic and other waste from entering the Chao Phraya River and the ocean. In 2021, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources announced a collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup to tackle riverine plastic pollution in the river, including deploying a vessel known as the Interceptor to collect plastic debris.
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Microplastics
The Chao Phraya River in Thailand is heavily polluted with plastic waste. As the river passes through densely populated areas of central Thailand, it is often used as a catch-all waste disposal unit. This includes plastic sandbags, which, when left on the banks of the river, can disintegrate into microplastics.
Aquaculture is common on the Chao Phraya, and plastic pollution from this industry is a significant issue. Plastic nets and floats used on fish farms slowly disintegrate, releasing microplastics into the water. A recent study found significant amounts of microplastics in the guts of giant river prawns for sale at a market in Uthai Thani Province.
The washing of synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon is another source of microplastic pollution in the river. These microfibres are released into the water and can escape even when wastewater is treated.
The Pollution Control Department of Thailand reported that the water quality of the Chao Phraya River has seriously deteriorated in the past decade due to discharges of domestic wastewater, urban runoff, industrial waste, and agricultural waste.
Studies have shown that the consumption of seafood containing microplastics can have implications for human health. In addition, microplastics can adsorb heavy metals, which can then be transferred up the food chain.
In 2019, the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment released the Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management (2018-2030), which outlines targets for various agencies to reduce plastic waste. However, the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with the achievement of these targets and reportedly triggered a rise in plastic use.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Chao Phraya River is one of Thailand's most polluted rivers.
The Chao Phraya River is polluted with plastic, heavy metals, organic pollutants, and bacteria.
The pollution in the Chao Phraya River comes from a variety of sources, including household waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste, and wastewater.
Efforts are being made by the Thai government and non-government organisations to tackle the pollution in the Chao Phraya River. Projects include deploying vessels to collect plastic debris, using trash traps in canals, and monitoring the flow of plastic waste.
