People in Muang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat have been told to refrain from using water in natural waterways after officials of the Pollution Control Department have found the water is heavily contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria (FCB) which is unfit for consumption.

PCD deputy director-general Suwan Nanthasarut said the department had sent officials to collect water samples from water at and around the landfill and natural waterways in Muang district since January 19 for testing.

The laboratorial tests show that the water quality is very bad and contaminated with FCB from human feces which were discharged into the environment during the serious flooding last month and from household discharges, he said, however, added that the amount of heavy metals in the water remains within standard.

PCD also told the municipal administration to quickly block the heavily polluted water in and around the landfill to prevent it from spreading around and contaminating natural waterways.

An estimated one million tonnes of garbage are left in the landfill and remain to be disposed of.

Nakhon Si Thammarat residents told not to use water from klongs and river - Thai PBS English News