Artesian wells in Thai North affected by recent quake

BANGKOK, July 7 (TNA) - A recent powerful earthquake in the Thai North has affected artesian wells in Chiang Rai Province. Supot Jemsawatdipong, Director-General of the Department of Groundwater Resources, under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, told journalsits on Monday that the earthquake with the magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale on May 5, followed by numerous aftershocks, has damaged artesian wells in Chiang Rai's Phan, Mae Lao and Mae Suai Districts. Supot elaborated that water levels at artesian wells have subsided and water in some wells cannot be consumed now because it gives off sulfur-like smells. Supot acknowledged that his department's staffs examined 1,028 artesian wells there from May 24 to June 27 and found that heavy impacts happened to shallow wells as sand emerged in the wells, causing their water levels shallower, while some wells have subsided and given off unpleasant smells. Besides, water in some wells is too murky for consumption. According to the senior official, samples of water giving off sulfur-like smells do not, however, contain sulfur but they are contaminated with E. coli bacteria from nearby septic tanks. The senior official suggested that locals send samples of water in their wells to concerned authorities for tests before repairing and reusing their wells for the sake of safety, warning that shallow artesian wells where plenty of sand emerged from underground cracks could subside in the future. (TNA)