Thailand Corrects Water Quality Data for Prachinburi River; Aluminum Levels Within Natural Range

Key summary

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office clarified that previously published water quality data for the Prachinburi River contained conflicting figures which have now been corrected. The updated measurements show ammonia levels between 0.22 and 0.48 mg/L and aluminum levels between 0.559 and 3.547 mg/L. Officials stated that the correction aligns the data with facts and does not indicate a recent spike in riverine aluminum, noting that aluminum is naturally present from soil and rock erosion as well as industrial activity. The government cannot yet confirm if aluminum caused fish deaths, citing US EPA guidelines that require assessing pH and water hardness alongside metal concentrations. The Pollution Control Department plans to collect sediment samples after the flooding subsides to identify pollution sources, focusing on areas near Pakhom Bridge in Nong Hoi Village and Paknam Prachinburi Bridge in Kabin Buri Subdistrict. While heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and lead were found within standards in nine fish samples from four districts, the current tests do not yet assess aluminum's specific impact on aquatic life.