Legal Analysis
Bangkok government issued an underground water usage act in 1977. The act was mean to control the activities that relate to underground extracting and releasing. The government has realized this problem could become more serious and lead to land subsidizes which would result in flooding and infrastructure damages. One of the most effective ways to control the use of water is by charge the money to user.
Bangkok government issued an underground water usage act in 1977. The act was mean to control the activities that relate to underground extracting and releasing. The government has realized this problem could become more serious and lead to land subsidizes which would result in flooding and infrastructure damages. One of the most effective ways to control the use of water is by charge the money to user.
The government has started to install the water meter and collect fee from the use of underground water since 1985-2000
Exhibit 1 Price of underground water per cubic meter
Form the graph, the subsidize rate and price of underground water is divert related. When the price go up the subsidize rate go down significantly.
Beside from let industry pay for water usage, the government also enforces the law on underground water related businesses. The person who wants to use underground water will need to get approval from local government and department of ground water resources.
Key focus on Legal enforcement over underground water usage (www.dgr.go.th)
1.Department of ground water resources would allow to extract water at maximum 1.25 millions cu.m cover 7 provinces; Bangkok, Samutprakarn, Patumthani, Nonthaburi, Samutsakorn, Ayudtaya and Nakornpathom.
2. In case drilling the ground more than 400 meter, the person must follow Natural Packed Well standard where the pipe must follow ASTM A-120 Standard Pipe or API 5L standard weight line pipe.
3. There will be fine and penalty applied, in case there is an unreported use of ground water.
The detail of law on make use of underground water can be found in www.drg.go.th and act of underground water issue 1977.
The policy has proved to be successful. However in reality the land subsidize rate is still high and would lead Bangkok to stay 1 meter under sea level in 2017. There is also a doubtful on how strong government enforces the law on underground water usage which also an opportunity for us to do something.
Now there are several parties involved in analyze the use of underground water. There is underground water mapping which created by Department of groundwater resource, Asia Institution of Technology and Military map department under the supervision of office of National environment board.
Environmental analysis
Bangkok was declared as crisis area for overuse of underground water since 1983 where land subsidizes rate is more than 10 cm. /year. The over use of underground water can create a big impact on agricultural sector and lead to flooding in several areas of Bangkok. As the ground level become lower than the sea level when rain season come the water would unable to release in time.
According to geography of Bangkok, the city is located nearby the sea therefore the overuse of underground water would lead to sea water intrusion. The sea water intrusion could create huge lost to entire agricultural area nearby and also eco-system of Bangkok. The source of water would also be contaminated and unable to use for a long time.
Now there are several parties involved in analyze the use of underground water. There is underground water mapping which created by Department of groundwater resource, Asia Institution of Technology and Military map department under the supervision of office of National environment board.
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