The Deputy Minister of the Interior urgently ordered the Provincial Waterworks Authority to resolve the problem of cloudy, dark tap water in Ban Chang District, revealing that the cause was machinery stirring up sediment.
On 17 June 2026, Mr. Je Seth Thaiset, Deputy Minister of the Interior, disclosed that residents using tap water under the responsibility of the Ban Chang PWA branch in Rayong Province have been severely affected by cloudy, dark water containing sediment, making it unusable for consumption as reported in various media. He instructed the Provincial Waterworks Authority to send engineers and relevant staff to the area promptly to investigate, fix the issue, and provide relief to affected residents.
Mr. Je Seth said he ordered officials to swiftly flush sediment from the main water distribution pipes (Blow-off) serving all households. He emphasized that any future pipe connections or repairs must ensure water is clear before releasing it into the system. Additionally, all areas in the expanding water service zone must be inspected to prevent wider impact, as some households still face cloudy water problems.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister personally contacted residents in the affected areas—villages 4-5 in Ban Chang Subdistrict and villages 5-7 in Phla Subdistrict, Ban Chang District—to confirm the expedited resolution efforts. The PWA found the main cause was vibration from large machinery used in a local government project to excavate and lay drainage and street lighting pipes near the water production station, which caused sediment to disperse. Combined with a temporary water shutdown to relocate the main water pipeline to avoid road improvement work in village 3, Ban Chang Subdistrict, this led to widespread cloudy water, low flow, or no flow.
"If residents in the Ban Chang PWA service area continue to experience difficulties or unresolved water issues, they can report at 0-3860-1292, 0-3860-2008, or the PWA hotline 1662, where staff are available 24 hours," Mr. Je Seth concluded.