Water supply management of local government organizations for accessibility clean water in Thailand
Keywords:
Local Water Supply, Water Quality, Water LiteracyAbstract
This study aimed to: 1) examine local water supply management and public water literacy, 2) evaluate water quality at system entry and point-of-use, and 3) synthesize policy recommendations to enhance local water supply management. A mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected via surveys from 100 Environmental Health Accreditation (EHA) applicant local administrative organizations (LAOs) and face-to-face interviews with 420 local residents. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions across 18 purposively selected study sites spanning 6 regions, combined with water quality analysis of 21 parameters (36 samples) against Department of Health 2020 Drinking Water Standards.
The results showed that 86.00% of LAOs managed their own water production, primarily utilizing surface water (47.00%). Average monthly revenue and expenditure were 284,971.12 THB and 232,865.94 THB, respectively. However, a major limitation was identified: only 34.70% possessed water quality monitoring tools or systems. Although most residents exhibited moderate-to-high water literacy (85.24%–96.90%), operational issues persisted, notably chlorine odor (35.48%) and turbidity (14.29%), incurring an average bottled water expense of 296.82 THB/household/month. Only 33.33% of water systems met all standard parameters. Microbiological risks were prominent, with Coliform bacteria (27.78%) and E. coli (11.11%) failing standards at both entry and end-points.
The results showed that 86.00% of LAOs managed their own water production, primarily utilizing surface water (47.00%). Average monthly revenue and expenditure were 284,971.12 THB and 232,865.94 THB, respectively. However, a major limitation was identified: only 34.70% possessed water quality monitoring tools or systems. Although most residents exhibited moderate-to-high water literacy (85.24%–96.90%), operational issues persisted, notably chlorine odor (35.48%) and turbidity (14.29%), incurring an average bottled water expense of 296.82 THB/household/month. Only 33.33% of water systems met all standard parameters. Microbiological risks were prominent, with Coliform bacteria (27.78%) and E. coli (11.11%) failing standards at both entry and end-points.
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