Chiang mai: The Pollution Control Department (PCD) is taking measures to assist Chiang Mai Municipality in restoring the Mae Kha Canal, which has recently suffered from pollution, in anticipation of the Loi Krathong Festival in 2025. The department has identified deteriorating water quality in the canal and is working urgently to dredge the waterway and install wastewater collection pipes to enhance its drainage capacity.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Surin Worakithamrong, the Director-General of the Pollution Control Department, disclosed that the situation has been gaining attention on social media, with residents noting that the Mae Kha Canal "is starting to look different." Once a clean and popular tourist destination along Rakang Road in the Hai Ya Subdistrict of Mueang Chiang Mai District, the canal has turned into a repository of grey wastewater, emitting a foul odor and littered with garbage, which has adversely affected the image of Chiang Mai Province.
The PCD has tasked the Office of Environmental and Pollution Control 1 in Chiang Mai with inspecting the area around Rakang Bridge. Their findings indicated that the water in the canal is dark, slightly odorous, and filled with debris. Field tests further revealed a dissolved oxygen level of 2.01 milligrams per liter, a pH of 7.20, and an electrical conductivity of 215 microsiemens per centimeter, classifying the water as "deteriorated."
Mr. Surin emphasized that he has coordinated with Chiang Mai Municipality to accelerate the rehabilitation of Mae Kha Canal in its third phase. This phase includes dredging the canal along Mahidol Road, which is at the end of the Mae Kha Canal, to improve water drainage efficiency from the city and reduce the risk of flooding. Additionally, a wastewater collection system will be set up to treat the water before it is reintroduced into the canal.
Chiang Mai Municipality is set to collaborate with relevant agencies to expedite the improvement of water quality in time for the Loi Krathong Festival in 2025, a significant event that draws numerous Thai and international tourists to Chiang Mai.