Cha-am’s mayor has ordered an immediate halt to a wastewater discharge onto Cha-am Beach and instructed municipal lawyers to pursue legal action, following concerns from residents and tourists.
The municipality said Mayor Nukul Pornsomboonsiri issued the order after learning of the incident. Images and information circulating on social media had prompted concerns about the potential impact on the environment and tourism.
According to the municipality, a contractor hired by an external agency was repairing a pump belonging to the Wastewater Management Authority when the incident occurred. It said the work was neither a municipal project nor an operation carried out by municipal staff.
The mayor directed the municipality’s legal affairs team to take action over the discharge of wastewater into the sea. The statement did not specify which laws may have been breached or whether a legal complaint had been filed.
Municipality apologises over wastewater discharge
The municipality apologised to residents, tourists and those affected. It said it had instructed the agency that commissioned the repairs and contractors working within its jurisdiction to exercise care and strictly follow relevant laws and regulations to prevent a recurrence.
It also thanked those who reported the incident and said public comments and suggestions would inform its oversight of work carried out in the area.
The statement did not identify the contractor or the agency that hired it. It also provided no details about the volume of wastewater discharged, its treatment status or any water-quality test results.
