Abstract
Community-Based Monitoring System on Environmental Quality and Health in the Pong RiverThis operational research was aimed to investigate socioeconomic, environment and health problems of the Pong communities affected by water pollution, and abstract community practices on environmental surveillance systems between local communities, andadopt community-based systems on environmental quality surveillance. The investigation focussed on nine communities locating adjacent to industrial site, along the Pong River in Nampong, Khon Kaen Province Thailand. All these villages have often complained about water pollution. The study results showed local communities have been impacted by water pollution with different degrees of the magnitude. The communities located adjacent to the industry were much effected by pollution than the further upstream and downstream villages. Obvious impacts were their water supply for household uses and drinking waters. They have to buy waters instead of drinking rainwater as usual. The polluted waters from bored-well are restricted for any household uses. The irrigation waters were also polluted, which were therefore much poor and exceeding agriculture standards for rice forming. The rice paddocks were party impacted due to wastewater leaching from the industry. Major health impact due to water pollution found was skin rash when the locals contacted contaminated waters. Overall assessment initially revealed that the locals wished to use their information, and wanted to participate in watershed development decision-making process. Two out of the three local governments could financially support the communities. However, all three local governments still need supports technically, particularly, with practical issues of community participation on watershed management, techniques and materials on pollution assessment and community health impacts, and environmental information management system. The locals have difficulty of using water-testing materials, in which glassware was easily broken and inappropriate. Some spare parts were hardly found in the rural.
