On December 30, Ms. Preeyaporn Suwannaket, Director-General of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), reported findings from nationwide water quality monitoring conducted across 398 sites within 61 major water bodies and nine stagnant water sources. The assessments, carried out quarterly using the Water Quality Index (WQI), revealed that in 2024, 43% of the water bodies (30 sources) were rated as having "good" water quality, 36% (25 sources) as "fair," and 21% (15 sources) as "poor."
Ms. Preeyaporn highlighted the top ten water bodies with the best quality in Thailand, which include the Kwae Noi River, the upper Tapi River, the Kwae Yai River, the Kok and upper Mekong Rivers, the Songkhram River, Nong Han Lake, the Li River, and others such as the upper Lang Suan River and Khlong Kui Buri. Collectively, these represent 20 pristine sources from across the country.
However, the Chao Phraya River's lower section was identified as having the poorest water quality, classified under the "deteriorated" category. This highlights a pressing need for targeted measures to address pollution and ensure sustainable water management in this crucial river basin.