Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced the news at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Oct 22).
A delegation of Chinese experts, including senior engineers from CWEG Design & Consulting Co, joined local officials at the meeting to discuss solutions tailored to Phuket’s specific “challenges”, said an official report of the meeting.
The meeting, attended by government heads and representatives from local administrative organisations.
Lili Gan, Deputy General Manager of CWEG’s International Business Department, discussed the differences in wastewater treatment between China and Phuket.
“In China, wastewater from combined pipes is treated separately from natural water sources. However, in Phuket, wastewater often mixes with rainwater or water from canals, making treatment “more challenging”, he said.
“To address this, there are two options: building a central pipeline to collect wastewater, or installing new treatment systems in specific areas,” he added.
Governor Sophon confirmed that CWEG, a state-owned Chinese company, will design a wastewater treatment system to counter wastewater problems in key areas.
The plan will be based on local data, including wastewater volume, the number of households, and area characteristics, he said.
Chinese experts from CWEG will take about three months to design the system, he added.
The goal is to develop wastewater treatment systems in nine locations, starting with Karon, which was described as the “most ready”.
The project will then expand to Kamala, Cherng Talay (which includes Bang Tao), Sakhu (which includes Nai Yang) and Srisoonthorn, said the report.
“This initiative is a key step in solving the wastewater issues that affect Phuket’s image as a tourist destination. By installing underground systems, more space will be available above ground for other uses,” he said.
CHINA REVISITED
Governor Sophon led a delegation of government and private sector leaders on a visit to three major cities in China in August to engage in discussions and explore collaborations on wastewater management and waste disposal systems.
The delegation visited the cities Chengdu, Guizhou and Xi’an during the visit from Aug 16-20.
Joining the delegation were Norasak Suksomboon (Phuket Vice Governor at the time), former Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet and current President Kongsak Koophongsakorn along with Phuket Sports Association President Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, among others.
The intent of the tour was to investigate advanced environmental management systems in China that could potentially be implemented in Phuket.
The tour follows Dr Surasee Kittimonthon, Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), revealing during an inspection tour of Phuket last year that nearly 55,000 cubic metres of untreated wastewater is released in Phuket each day as the island does not have the capacity to treat it.
Apichart Sirisunthon, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment, arrived in Phuket on a study tour in March to investigate the island’s wastewater woes.
The visit by Mr Apichart followed black wastewater flowing across beaches and into the sea where tourists swim at Patong, Karon (see here and here), Kamala and Bang Tao.