CHIANG RAI, Thailand – Residents in Mae Sai district of northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai province are facing growing daily expenses and health concerns following persistent toxic contamination in the Sai River. Water quality tests recently detected arsenic levels exceeding safe standards by up to 28 times. Although subsequent readings showed a decline to approximately 17 times above standard levels—allowing local tap water production to resume—the river passing through Koh Sai and Mae Sai communities remains reddish-cloudy and shallow.
Kiangkham Khonsangsaen, a 70-year-old local farmer in San Sai Mai village, said the river was once clear and served as a primary source for household use and crop irrigation. However, conditions deteriorated following major flooding in 2024, and the water has remained turbid ever since.
To irrigate her chili crops and support household needs, Kiangkham’s family resorted to drilling a groundwater well and operating a pump, incurring additional fuel and equipment costs of 200 to 300 baht per pumping session. Concerns over high arsenic levels have also prompted families to rely on bottled drinking water, adding over 500 baht to monthly household expenses. Local residents are calling on government authorities and relevant agencies to intervene by tackling the chemical contamination, restoring water quality, and securing safe water sources for affected communities. (TNA)
