Officials Warn Mae Sai Residents of Arsenic in River Water
Health officials in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district have warned residents to avoid using the Sai River for drinking or cooking after detecting arsenic and heavy metals above safe levels. The advisory covers five subdistricts and advises against consuming fish or other aquatic life from the river. Authorities urged vulnerable groups to take extra precautions and to monitor official updates.
Officials have warned residents of Mae Sai district, especially in five subdistricts — Mae Sai, Pong Pha, Si Mueang Chum, Wiang Pa Khong, and Ko Chang — to avoid using water from the Sai River for drinking or cooking after arsenic and heavy metals were found above safety standards. The Disease Control Department urged people not to consume aquatic animals from the river and to follow provincial announcements. Vulnerable groups such as river‑workers, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses should take extra precautions and use clean water.
