Residents of five villages in Sam Roi Yot district of Prachuap Khiri Khan have complained that a public creek they rely on heavily has became polluted, with many dead fish floating in it.
Local officials and soldiers on Wednesday examined the water at Huay Yang Khu creek in tambon Salalai of Sam Roi Yot district. They confirmed the presence of many dead fish of various species and sizes floating in the creek, which was dark and gave off a bad smell.
The creek is a major water source for thousands of households in five villages -- Moo 2, Moo 4, Moo 5, Moo 6 and Moo 7-- of tambon Salalai.
Anan Iemsam-ang, a local resident, said he went to catch fish in the creek on Wednesday and was shocked on finding a mass of dead fish floating on the water. He had no idea what actually killed the fish, but felt sure it was water pollution.
He and other families who earn their living catching fish would be badly affected, said Mr Anan.
Suparp Thai-udomsap, headman of Moo 6, said the creek might be contaminated with toxic waste. Unless the problem was fixed thousands of households would be affected.
Officials had collected samples of water from the creek for testing, he said.
Thivaporn Suwannahong, a senior official at Salalai tambon administration organisation, said authorities had inspected pig farms on the northern side of the creek, but none of them had released waste into the water.
Officials suspected industrial waste might be the source of the pollution. There were five factories in the community, producing concentrated fruit juice, canned fruit and palm oil, Ms Thivaporn said.
Authorities would inspect the factories.