Authorities Address Water Pollution and Fish Die-off in Khlong Raphiphat 2

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Watcharapon Khaokham has announced an urgent intervention to address water pollution and a mass fish die-off in the Khlong Raphiphat 2 canal, located in the Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani province.

According to reports from Khaosod Online, the pollution is attributed to stagnant floodwater from surrounding areas entering the canal, compounded by high water levels in the Chao Phraya River, which have hindered effective drainage. To mitigate the issue, the Ministry has initiated a two-pronged strategy: managing water flow by introducing fresh water to dilute pollutants, and actively restoring water quality by increasing circulation and oxygen levels using microbial treatments.

The Royal Irrigation Department is currently supplying approximately 500,000 cubic meters of fresh water daily. Officials are carefully monitoring discharge levels to ensure they do not exceed 1.80 meters above mean sea level, aiming to prevent further flooding in downstream residential areas. Authorities expect the situation to improve within one to two days, with a goal of clearing the stagnant water by mid-November.

For residents and visitors in the area, the primary concern remains the unpleasant odor and the environmental impact of the dead fish. While officials are working toward a resolution, the exact cause of the fish mortality is still pending confirmation from formal water quality test results. Residents are advised to monitor local updates as the cleanup progresses.