EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

River taxis, Chao Phraya (or Praya) River
Bangkok, Thailand

Explanation:  Bangkok, Thailand is a colorful city with temples, markets, crowded streets, and many canals that join to the Chao Phraya River that bisects this southeast Asia metropolis.  The river is alive with boats of all sorts, including these river taxis.  But the river, and the many people depending on it for their livelihood, are also suffering from poor water quality, including low levels of dissolved oxygen and high levels of sewage, ammonia, and bacteria.  

The local people are willing to pay to have the river cleaned.  Although water quality in Thailand has improved in recent years, the lower Chao Phraya remains a challenge from so many point sources of pollution from industry, agriculture, and the local population.  The challenge is to reduce pollution levels but maintain high levels of use for commerce, trade, transportation, tourism, drinking water, agricultural irrigation, and living space.  

The Chao Phraya is central to much of Thai life, history, and culture.  It is created by the joining of four rivers in the northern part of the country which are fed by seasonal monsoons.   

Living spaces crowd along the canals and banks
of the Chao Phraya River in central Bangkok.
The old and the new intermix, as does effluent
with the river waters.