Impact of urbanization on the water resources and public health in Pathumthani Province, Thailand

Abstract

This study attempts to analyze and describe the trend and pattern of urbanization, its impact on water resources as well as public health in Pathumthani province, which is an adjacent province of Bangkok Metropolitan. This province has good canal (khlong) network system. These khlongs have their own cultural and historical values. But the province has been promoted as a location for industrial development policy reforms introduced in Thailand in 1977. The study was carried out, using GIS as a tool, to identify the land use change. Major chemical parameters were selected to analysis water quality and cases registered data on water born diseases were analyzed to identify the impact on public health. The study reveals that growths have mainly occurred along the highways, river and khlongs sections. The findings highlight the situation of water quality in river and khlongs arising out of the process of urbanization in the province and its affect on public health.