Thai Industrial Estate Ordered To Stop Wastewater Pollution

The Industrial Estates Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has issued an urgent directive to Amata City Rayong and Amata U to immediately address wastewater discharge flowing into public canals and conduct damage assessments on surrounding communities with concrete remedial measures.

IEAT Governor Sumet Tangjaipresertsikh disclosed progress on wastewater pollution complaints in Amata City Rayong industrial estate following public and social media reports of contaminated water flowing into public canals and private property in Moo 4, Pananikkom Subdistrict, Nikhompatana District, Rayong Province, adjacent to Jong Seo Rubber (Thailand) Company. The IEAT has tasked the Amata City Rayong office with coordinating with relevant agencies including the Nikhompatana Justice Center, Rayong Provincial Industry Office, Pananikkom Subdistrict Municipality, Mabyangprom Subdistrict Administration, community leaders, and industrial park representatives to conduct detailed field investigations on June 29-30, 2569.

The investigation identified two primary sources of contamination:

1. The third central wastewater treatment system (under construction) where construction activity drainage was found flowing through pipes, causing mud and sediment to contaminate private water wells and adjacent public canals.

2. The fourth central wastewater treatment system where inspectors found discolored, foul-smelling irrigation water with excessive foam used for landscaping, which was overflowing into the central drainage system and subsequently into public canals outside the project.

These actions contradict the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for Amata City Rayong industrial estate Phase 6 expansion, which mandates that the fourth wastewater treatment system—a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system with 20,000 cubic meters daily capacity combined with a high-quality water reclamation plant—must implement zero discharge outside the project area. All treated wastewater must be recycled through reclamation processes or, if used for irrigation, must pass through a mixed water tank controlling dissolved solids (TDS) not exceeding 1,300 mg/liter in compliance with legal standards.

To protect the environment and quickly relieve community distress, the IEAT has issued urgent orders to Amata City Rayong Company and Amata U Company executives requiring six corrective actions:

1. Immediately halt construction water discharge from the third wastewater treatment system, prohibiting any construction water from flowing into public canals or private property.

2. Immediately block the foul-smelling black water in the fourth wastewater treatment system area to prevent further discharge.