Andaman Coast Ranked Best, Samut Prakan Declared Worst for Seawater Quality
PUBLISHED: 31 Dec 2024 at 17:03
The Pollution Control Department of Thailand has released a new report identifying the nation’s cleanest and most polluted beaches following a comprehensive seawater quality survey conducted at 210 coastal locations this year.
According to Director-General Preeyaporn Suwanaged, nearly half of the surveyed areas exhibited good water quality, while 43% had moderate quality, 6% were rated as deteriorated, and 2% as highly deteriorated.
The survey revealed that all ten of the cleanest beaches are situated in southern Thailand, predominantly in Krabi province. Notably, Samila Beach in Songkhla province ranked highest for seawater quality, followed closely by Nai Harn Beach in Phuket, and several locations in Krabi including Ton Sai Beach, Maya Beach, and Lo Samah Bay.
Conversely, the report highlighted the top five most polluted locations, primarily found in Samut Prakan province. The highest levels of seawater pollution were detected at the Chao Phraya River estuary in Samut Prakan, along with adjacent areas near various factories and local canals.
Over the past decade, seawater quality along 90% of Thailand’s coasts has been assessed as moderate to high. The Andaman Sea coast stands out for its significantly cleaner waters, whereas the inner Gulf of Thailand experiences higher pollution levels. The main contributors to seawater contamination have been identified as nutrient and bacteria discharges.
