Water Quality Monitoring: A Case Study of Samkong and Samrong Canals, Songkhla

A Case Study of Samkong and Samrong Canals, Songkhla

Abstract

Samkong and Samrong canals are important canals of Songkhla City that connect between the Gulf of Thailand and Songkhla lake. The canals receive wastewater from fishery, agriculture and households that results effected on the water pollution. For this reason, the water quality of canals is monitored at 2 points of water sampling each canal for 6 months from September 2022 – February 2023. The parameters were analyzed for water quality, including pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, total solids, total dissolved solids, nitrate-nitrogen, BOD, manganese, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and heavy metals. The analysis results were compared with the type 3 and 4 of surface water quality standards according to the Announcement of the National Environment Board No. 8, 1994. The water quality monitoring results of both canals showed that dissolved oxygen, BOD, total coliforms and fecal coliforms did not meet the water quality standards for surface water type 3, determined by the Environment Region 16. The heavy metal results showed that the heavy metal content in the water samples from both canals was not higher than the water quality standards The WQI analysis showed that WQI of Samkong and Samrong canals were 40.5 and 11.75 points, respectively. It was found that Samkong canal and Samrong canal had deteriorated water quality comparable to surface water type 4 and 5, respectively. Both canals have deteriorated water quality than type 3 surface water sources specified by the Environment Region 16.