76
Table 4.4 Group work results (2011)
Group 1
Title: A framework for analysis of wastewater management system in Bangkok
metropolitan area using sustainability indicators [ 5 ]
Abstract: In order to deal with wastewater, safeguard public health, and protect the natural environment in
a sustainable way, a framework for analysis of the management system using sustainability indicators
is needed to evaluate and improve the current system. The wastewater management system mainly
includes wastewater collection and treatment. Sustainability indicators were used to consider the environmental, economic and social factors—employing the Drivers–Pressure–State–Impact–Response
(DPSIR) methodology—for the seven existing wastewater treatment plants and the entire wastewater
management system in Bangkok. Among the three factors (above), only the investment item in the
economic factors was positive. The other items were evaluated as negative and far from satisfactory
for sustainable operation. The current bad water quality is also threatening public health and natural
sustainability. Finding problems is easier than solving them. Both Bangkok’s government and its citizens face big challenges: How to improve people’s awareness to change their own lifestyle; how to
sustain and manage the wastewater treatment plants; how to design treated water reuse plans; how to
improve treatment technology with less energy (less money); how to popularize and deepen sustainable education; and how to create more job opportunities and improve personal incomes together with
the increasing need for higher living standards and the needs of the surrounding environment.
Group 2
Title: Challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable urban water use
and management in Bangkok 2030: proposal for sustainability indicators [ 6 ]
Abstract: The goal is to defi ne sustainability indicators for urban water use. Managing the quantifi cation of that sustainability using multidimensional indicators is a complicated issue. In
Bangkok, annual water demand is growing at 8 %. At the same time, the quantity of wastewater
has been increasing at a much faster rate. Currently only about 50 % (at a maximum) of the
total wastewater is treated in Bangkok. As well, there are other problems that urgently require
improvement, such as a fresh water shortage, and fl ooding and deterioration of water quality in
the dry season. Not only technical issues but also socio- cultural issues must be considered in
greater detail. Public acceptance of reusing reclaimed water is a major concern, no matter how
good the quality. Effective communication among all the stakeholders—mainly from the government, public, industrial, and economic sectors—is crucial in setting up sustainable urban
water use and management. Based on a review of these current problems, the following suggestions were made: a commitment at the policy level for sustainable urban water use and management, improvements in wastewater collection, promotion of energy and water-saving
technologies, and the promotion of using reclaimed water.
Group 3
Title: Improving Quality of Life (QOL) for Bangkok’s citizen through
sustainable water use and management [ 7 ]
Abstract: Bangkok is one of the urban and economic mega-centers in Asia. But the prosperity of
Bangkok comes with urban hurdles, especially infrastructure and environmental weaknesses.
The increasing gap between supply and demand is posing a greater threat and the city is presently facing multiple threats to its water environment, including deteriorating water quality
(ground and surface water), water accessibility, wastewater management, water governance,
saltwater intrusion, etc. Discussions were held that identifi ed indicators, grouped into three
categories; water and wastewater management, integrated water management, and governance.
Discussions were also held to fi nd the correlation between urban poverty and water environment, and to fi nd out the infl uence of the degrading water environment on the quality of life
(QOL) of Bangkok’s citizens. Taking QOL as the representative indicator, the objective of the
proposal development was to improve QOL for Bangkok’s citizens by creating a mechanism
for sustainable water use and management. The physical, social, and environmental dimensions of QOL were investigated, and the fi nal outcome was formulated with both short-term
and long-term holistic recommendations towards 2030 for the categories of water and wastewater management, as well as integrated water management and governance.
T. Hoshiko and T. Akiyama
Table 4.4 Group work results (2011)
Group 1
Title: A framework for analysis of wastewater management system in Bangkok
metropolitan area using sustainability indicators [ 5 ]
Abstract: In order to deal with wastewater, safeguard public health, and protect the natural environment in
a sustainable way, a framework for analysis of the management system using sustainability indicators
is needed to evaluate and improve the current system. The wastewater management system mainly
includes wastewater collection and treatment. Sustainability indicators were used to consider the environmental, economic and social factors—employing the Drivers–Pressure–State–Impact–Response
(DPSIR) methodology—for the seven existing wastewater treatment plants and the entire wastewater
management system in Bangkok. Among the three factors (above), only the investment item in the
economic factors was positive. The other items were evaluated as negative and far from satisfactory
for sustainable operation. The current bad water quality is also threatening public health and natural
sustainability. Finding problems is easier than solving them. Both Bangkok’s government and its citizens face big challenges: How to improve people’s awareness to change their own lifestyle; how to
sustain and manage the wastewater treatment plants; how to design treated water reuse plans; how to
improve treatment technology with less energy (less money); how to popularize and deepen sustainable education; and how to create more job opportunities and improve personal incomes together with
the increasing need for higher living standards and the needs of the surrounding environment.
Group 2
Title: Challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable urban water use
and management in Bangkok 2030: proposal for sustainability indicators [ 6 ]
Abstract: The goal is to defi ne sustainability indicators for urban water use. Managing the quantifi cation of that sustainability using multidimensional indicators is a complicated issue. In
Bangkok, annual water demand is growing at 8 %. At the same time, the quantity of wastewater
has been increasing at a much faster rate. Currently only about 50 % (at a maximum) of the
total wastewater is treated in Bangkok. As well, there are other problems that urgently require
improvement, such as a fresh water shortage, and fl ooding and deterioration of water quality in
the dry season. Not only technical issues but also socio- cultural issues must be considered in
greater detail. Public acceptance of reusing reclaimed water is a major concern, no matter how
good the quality. Effective communication among all the stakeholders—mainly from the government, public, industrial, and economic sectors—is crucial in setting up sustainable urban
water use and management. Based on a review of these current problems, the following suggestions were made: a commitment at the policy level for sustainable urban water use and management, improvements in wastewater collection, promotion of energy and water-saving
technologies, and the promotion of using reclaimed water.
Group 3
Title: Improving Quality of Life (QOL) for Bangkok’s citizen through
sustainable water use and management [ 7 ]
Abstract: Bangkok is one of the urban and economic mega-centers in Asia. But the prosperity of
Bangkok comes with urban hurdles, especially infrastructure and environmental weaknesses.
The increasing gap between supply and demand is posing a greater threat and the city is presently facing multiple threats to its water environment, including deteriorating water quality
(ground and surface water), water accessibility, wastewater management, water governance,
saltwater intrusion, etc. Discussions were held that identifi ed indicators, grouped into three
categories; water and wastewater management, integrated water management, and governance.
Discussions were also held to fi nd the correlation between urban poverty and water environment, and to fi nd out the infl uence of the degrading water environment on the quality of life
(QOL) of Bangkok’s citizens. Taking QOL as the representative indicator, the objective of the
proposal development was to improve QOL for Bangkok’s citizens by creating a mechanism
for sustainable water use and management. The physical, social, and environmental dimensions of QOL were investigated, and the fi nal outcome was formulated with both short-term
and long-term holistic recommendations towards 2030 for the categories of water and wastewater management, as well as integrated water management and governance.
T. Hoshiko and T. Akiyama