| Author | Chamawong Suriyachan |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Environmental Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Among different approaches of wastewater management (WWM), the decentralized
wastewater management (DWWM) has gained much attention due to its build-as-yougo
principal. Sustainable urban development (SUD) has been an issue of many
developing country cities since their basic services such as water supply and wastewater
treatment could hardly meet with their demands. Rapid urban development and the
widespread impact of wastewater require sustainable ways to test the management of
the DWWM approach and also challenge its potential. This study aims to investigate
and discuss the performance and potentials of current Bangkok’s WWM approaches for
sustainable urban development, focusing on the decentralized management approach.
Sustainability indicators were carefully reviewed, analyzed and selected in accordance
with the SUD criteria for screening process. WWM approaches in Bangkok were
examined using case study research methods. Considerations for identifying
communities included urban location, community size, wastewater treatment capacity,
and wastewater treatment technology. Evidence such as data from government reports
and maps were obtained to analyze the DWWM systems. Three DWWM cases and two
centralized wastewater management (CWWM) cases were selected as representatives of
each urban location for detailed investigation. Residential wastewater user surveys and
expert interviews were used to support system performance findings of service
providers and recipients, and to draw lessons learned. For potential of DWWM, key
indicators were analyzed and selected based on the fine screening process. Cost
analysis, health risk analysis and environmental risk analysis as well as data synthesis
were used for seeking potential of DWMM in various angles.
Results show that DWWM in Bangkok is preferable in terms of its cost and efficiency.
The competitive cost found is a result of less sewer line, simple technology, and limited
additional costs while high efficiency is a result of good operation and maintenance
(O&M). Also high percentage of reclaimed water has been used for landscape irrigation
of the urban greenery. Social sustainability of the system lies in social value of open
space availability and large extent of service it provides for public, and livelihood
increase from more staff requirement. The results from the study confirm that DWWM
performance works well in outer urban area for most of the study consideration and
potentially contributes to the SUD. Also results show that even in an inner or middle
urban area DWWM does not conflict with any SUD considerations. On the contrary, it
has potential for low system land price and high potential for short sewer line cost. High
potential was also placed on higher density and land consumption. This study concludes
that DWWM has potentials for SUD of Bangkok as evidence suggested. Academically,
contributions attempt to demonstrate that DWWM could be effectively used in outer
urban areas as well as inner and middle urban areas, and accepted by the public.
Practically, this case has proven that DWWM, particularly a cluster system, is a viable
option for urban development implication and one could restore poor performance
plants into well functioning plants with good O&M. The study recommends using
DWWM for new high density cluster urban development that could secure O&M
standards. |
| Year | 2012 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vilas Nitivattananon; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Amin, A.T.M. Nurul ;Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh;Sajor, Edsel E. ;Thammarat Koottatep;Hanaki, Keisuke ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government; |