The level of lead contamination in Kanchanaburi Province's Klity Creek has fallen and the affected sediment is still being cleaned up, according to the Department of Pollution Control.
The contamination level is now at 3,000 milligrammes per kilogramme, compared to more than 100,000 ug/kg in the pre-rehabilitation phase.
Klity Creek is closely monitored every four months, said the director of the department's domestic wastewater management division, Chayawee Wangcharoenrung.
With a budget of more than 600 million baht, two phases of clearing the lead-contaminated sediment have been launched under the Supreme Administration Court's order in 2013, he said.
More than 100,000 tonnes of sediment have been removed, he noted.
"The next step is to review the level of lead contamination in the environment and in local people's blood to decide if we should come up with other plans," Mr Chayawee added.
He said that even though the rehabilitation work is ongoing, the department lacks the funds to make frequent site visits due to the delay in disbursing the fiscal budget.
That being said, the initial results of a project evaluation conducted by the Thai Environmental Engineers Association has proved satisfactory, he said.
However, not everyone is happy with the progress and wants the department to do more.
Surapong Kongchanthuek, director of the Centre for Study and Development of Karen, said the clean-up process officially expired in 2022 and has not yielded a satisfying result.
The sediment was not properly cleared away but instead removed to a secure landfill above the creek, leaving local people with concerns about future leaks, he said.
Meanwhile, the level of lead contamination noted in local water sources and wildlife remains about the suggested safety standard, he added
In response, Mr Chayawee said: "The department has a clear mission to clean up the creek and provide a safe environment for local people.
"But that doesn't mean we will remove all of the lead from the environment.
"If the lead is still under the soil and not exposed to the general environment, it is still safe for people to go about their daily business."
