NARATHIWAT - The black water drawing big crowds to two small pools in Si Sakhon district is not contaminated and has natural properties that can cure skin disease, say local residents.
People in the village of Ai Kasae also say they are not being superstitious when they claim that the black water from their community is sacred.
Jormae Jaema, 50, a local resident, said the two small pools were natural water sources that have existed for over 40 years. Initially, only one pool contained black water but a second one later emerged nearby.
Local people came to notice that the water from the pools appeared to have healing properties after there was an outbreak of skin disease among animals. Infected animals using water from the pools were healed, said Mr Jormae.
As word about the healing water spread, more people came to fetch water from the pools for use at home. People with skin ailments also found the water helpful, he said.
Rumours soon began to spread that the black water is a cure-all, attracting more people from outside the district and even outside the province.
A video clip featuring the black water from the village was recently posted online, drawing mixed reactions. Some people claimed it might be contaminated with human faeces.
But local residents dismissed the claims and said the water was all-natural.
On Saturday, hundreds of people carrying bottles and plastic bags converged on Ai Kasae to fetch the black water.
Crowds of people await their turn to draw black water in Si Sakhon district of Narathiwat. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
The two pools are located along the Si Sakhon-Chanae Road. One is about 2.4 metres wide and four metres long and the other one, located at a rubber plantation nearby, is one metre wide and two metres long.
People queued up to fetch water from the big pool, while the small one was used as an outdoor bathing area.
Dr Sommai Boonkliang, head of the Narathiwat public health office, had earlier asked Si Sakhon public health officials to collect samples of the water for examination. He said the initial results found that the water had some properties that could be treat certain diseases.
However, he warned people not to drink the water as it contained bacteria that might lead to diarrhoea.
Black water has been marketed commercially in some countries for the past few years and is popular among some consumers who favour alternative health remedies. The commercial products contain fulvic trace minerals, which are esssentially condensed plant matter, giving the water its distinctive colour.
As long as the black-water craze persists in Si Sakhon, Dr Sommai said, local authorities should improve the landscape and ensure cleanliness around the pools to accommodate the rising number of visitors.
Vehicles line both sides of the road leading to the black-water pools at Ai Kasae in Si Sakhon district of Narathiwat on Saturday. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
People fetch black water said to cure skin disease. (Photo by Waedao Harai)