Suphan Buri villages flooded with wastewater from ethanol plant
Two villages in Suphan Buri province’s Dan Chang district were swamped with black and stinking water after the wastewater treatment pond of an ethanol factory overflowed because of heavy downpour.
Popular Facebook page “@queentogetherisone” first published the post that heavy rains had caused the wastewater treatment pond to overflow at about 3am on Sunday.
The post said the wastewater from the pond had flooded Moo 7 and Moo 15 villages in Tambon Nong Makhamong, damaging the belongings of the residents, their sugarcane plantations and paddy rice fields.
“The colour of the water was very scary,” the post added.
Many fish in a nearby canal were reported to have died as the wastewater mixed with floodwater following the heavy rains.
Weerachai Phutdhawong, a lecturer in chemistry at Kasetsart University, explained that wastewater from an ethanol plant would cause a stench because of the hydrogen sulphide content which led to high acidity levels in the air. He warned that the stench and the high acidity could affect the respiratory organs of the people and could cause their utensils or kitchen tools to rust.
He said the wastewater needed to be urgently diluted with clean water.