Impact of pollution on water quality of the coastal Samut Prakarn Province (Thailand) with a focus on the Bang Pu nature reserve | |
| Author | Siddiqui, Zuhaib |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-05-34 |
| Subject(s) | Water--Pollution--Thailand|zSamut Prakan Water quality--Thailand--Samut Prakan |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Assessment of the anthropogenic organic and inorganic pollution in Coastal Samut Prakarn Province with a focus on the Bang Pu Nature Reserve (56.25 sq km, geographical location: E 673341, N 1499650 and E 680400, N 1492545) was undertaken from May 2004 to March 2005 with a view to enhance its educational and conservational potential through future interventions in the Reserve. The baseline (existing) conditions were established for the study area through biogeochemical and hydrological investigation. It was conclusively shown that water bodies (sea, mangrove mudflats, ponds, wetlands and channels) of the area, and those of the Reserve in particular, sustain synergistic impacts of pollution from both municipal (market and residential) and industrial point and non-point sources. It was established through the analyses of numerous parameters (dissolved and suspended solids, nutrients, microalgae etc) comprising both organic and inorganic pollutants and their comparison with the National Environmental Board, 1994 and other guidelines that the area should be classified as that under eutrophic conditions. Nevertheless the coastal ecosystem appears to be in a healthy state. Major sources of pollutants affecting the study area were identified and quantified. No significant changes in these parameters were observed diurnally due to the character of the hydraulic management of the Reserve affected through installed control water gates which were closed down during low tides to prevent water from leaving the internal water bodies in the seaward direction. However, concentrations of different pollutional components, both organic and inorganic, were lower in the rainy season (May-October 2004) as compared to the dry season (November 2004-March 2005), apparently due to precipitation-induced dilution. Similar trends were also observed retrospectively while utilizing remote sensing and geographic information technology when results were evaluated by processing of Landsat satellite imageries of years 2002- 04 and compared with the data of year 1994. The empirical relations between water quality and the optical properties of water (spectral reflectance) were developed for a number of critical pollutional parameters at specific locations. The relationships were simulated in the field conditions by developing the pollutional enhanced maps which also helped tracing the extent of local organic and over the last decade. Mapping of coastal mangroves showed a sign of a significant impact with a decrease in heavy mangrove cover by approx 11 %. The initial data may serve as a foundation for future informed guidelines for the rehabilitation of the ecosystems of the Bang Pu Nature Reserve, in particular, and Samut Prakarn Province, in general, with a view to rehabilitating and enhancing local biodiversity, since the habitat diversity and species diversity within the nature reserve can be significantly enhanced through careful management of salinity levels, fresh water and organics input from the adjacent areas. It is deemed necessary to introduce a buffering zone in Pond 5 between the Reserve (ponds 1- 4) and adjacent polluted area. It is obvious from the results quantifying organic and inorganic pollutants that this zone can be based on a constructed freshwaterfed reeds wetland which will prevent heavy metals finding their way into the reserve while it will still feed stimulating nutrients (C, N and P). Thereby the nature reserve will not only work for nature conservation but will be an effective pollution mitigating area serving the local community in bad need of such a facility. Eventually these measures will substantially enhance biodiversity value of the area through attraction of a wider variety of birds which will in turn significantly increase educational value of the reserve. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Preeda Parkpian;Tipathi, Nitin Kumar;Parr, John W. K.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of France; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |