1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Assessment of water quality in Nam Kok River, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR

AuthorOukham Phounpakone
Call NumberAIT Thesis no.EV-09-25
Subject(s)Water quality--Laos

NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
AbstractNam Kok river is one of the tributaries of Sebanghiang river which intern flows to the Mekong in the South-West of Savannakhet province, far from Savannakhet town of about 265 kilometer, lies between latitudes 16°42’12” N and 17°04’51” N. Longitudes 106°13’07”E and 106°13’52” E.; with the total catchments area of 1326 km², and 78 km of length, its represents of 0.17% and 0.52% of catchments area of flow of the Mekong river respectively. It is an important habitat and settlement to earn the living to people of 45 villages and more than 31.000 peoples who are living along the river bank. It also became main sources of beneficially water to support to agriculture and industrial in the area. The objective of this study is to investigate the river water quality condition in Namkok and focus on to determined the basis parameter on water quality and analysis metal concentration contents in fish tissue. There are 16 aspects of parameters and two kinds of fish tissue: Rasbra atridosalis and Channa Gachua were use for analysis in this study. Base on Classification of allowable and standard. The results of monitoring and analysis verify that, existing river water quality in Namkok is in the medium condition (Class 3), it is suitable for agriculture and clean fresh surface water sources use for human consumption on, but passing through the ordinary treatment process before using. Catch per unit effort of fish species caught in Nam Kok river decreased in some location compared to previous survey. These impacts are probably from high fishing pressures in locations upstream, otherwise a small retaining weir constructed across the Nam Kok River were also the potentially impact on fish populations in the river, possible restriction of longitudinal fish migration The measured metal concentrations in fish tissue samples were not indicative of any potential for human health risk associated with consumption of those species. Copper, Manganese, and Cyanide exposure in downstream is potential to elevate levels in fish tissue and impacts are likely to be detected long before they become a problem or are irreversible.
Year2009
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)
DepartmentDepartment of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC))
Academic Program/FoSEnvironmental Engineering (EV)
Chairperson(s)Thammarat Koottatep
Examination Committee(s)Yakupitayage, Amararatne;Preeda Pakpian
Scholarship Donor(s)Sweden (Sida Flexible program)
DegreeThesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009


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