The government is concerned about the health of Prachinburi residents and is accelerating the investigation of contaminants in water sources after reports indicated that people are at risk due to flooding and industrial waste landfill sites. Authorities have been ordered to conduct water quality inspections down to the community level.
On 28 October 2026, Ms. Lalida Perdiwattana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government prioritizes the health and safety of Prachinburi residents. Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, has instructed the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to urgently assess environmental quality, especially water sources used by the public for consumption, following reports that residents are at health risk due to flooding and seepage from industrial waste landfill sites. Meanwhile, the Department of Disease Control reported health screenings showing that most residents exhibit skin symptoms, making it necessary to urgently identify contamination sources and their transmission pathways to prevent further health impacts.
Ms. Lalida stated that the Pollution Control Department, through the Environmental and Pollution Control Office 7 (Saraburi), is scheduled to conduct field inspections on 28 October 2026. They will assess water quality in canals in Khok Pib and Khu Lamphan subdistricts, Sri Mahosot District, Prachinburi Province. This includes surveying and collecting water samples along canal routes and water flow paths into communities, as well as raw water samples used for village tap water production in areas where residents have shown high blood heavy metal levels. These samples will be analyzed for contaminants and to verify links to pollution sources in the area.
The Pollution Control Department will expedite fact-finding using scientific evidence and coordinate with relevant agencies to assess health and environmental impacts. If evidence confirms a connection between contaminants and pollution sources, authorities with legal jurisdiction will be engaged to strictly enforce laws to prevent further harm to residents.
“The government is deeply concerned about the health and safety of its people, especially risks from daily water use. Therefore, it has urgently instructed relevant agencies to conduct thorough field investigations to establish facts accurately and address the problem effectively. This process must be scientific, transparent, and verifiable. Should pollution sources causing the problem be identified, legal actions will be enforced accordingly,” the spokesperson said.