Residents of Naxon and Natham villages are complaining about unpleasant odours emanating from Lao Indochina Group's tapioca factory in Pakngum district, Vientiane.
The smell is originating from reservoirs used to store and treat waste from the cassava powder production process and villagers are concerned it may have a negative effect on their health.
“The only way to lessen the smell is the use of ‘effective microorganisms', or EM. Or else stop production,” Vientiane Water Resources and Environmental Head of Office, Ms Khamfong Phoumvongxay, said yesterday.
EM is a liquid bacterial product consisting of three groups of bacteria: yeast, photosynthetic bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria. It is commonly used to treat wastewater and waste in the agricultural and livestock industries.
“We don't know if the factory is using sufficient quantities of EM to eliminate odours from the factory's reservoirs or not. We don't have technicians working on this issue,” Ms Khamfong said.
Nearby villagers say the odour is sometimes unbearable and they doubt the factory is treating its waste properly.
Head of the Clean Agriculture Station at the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department, Mr Sengthavy Phothilath, said “The factory only uses EM to reduce odours on certain occasions, such as visits by officials.”
The station provides services relating to the use of EM. The product eliminates odours for around 24 hours. “It would be good if the factory used it more regularly, at least three times per week,” Mr Sengthavy said.
The station has approached the factory offering its services. “But so far there has been no response from the plant,” Mr Sengthavy said.
“The station only charges about 4 to 5 million kip per week for the service.”
Head of the Science Research and Health Education Unit under the Vientiane Public Health Department, Dr Phoupasong Somphou, said “It's good to hear the villagers complaining. However, the odour will not have any serious health effects.”
Mr Phoupasong said the odour will not have detrimental health effects as it is similar to the smell of rotten food and is not dangerous like odours caused by chemical waste.
The unit has worked together with the Vientiane Water Resources and Environment Office to inspect wastewater treatment at the factory.
“We are pleased to help if locals become ill because of the smell,” Mr Phoupasong said.
Pakngum district Governor, Mr Cheu-va Saytong, said people living close to the factory often complain about the smell. However, the reservoirs will be odourless once a proposed biogas plant is completed and becomes operational.
The Thai Biogas Energy Company will build a system to capture gases rising from the treatment reservoirs. Construction is expected to begin next month and the company is currently waiting for the government to grant a licence for the project.
It will take 8 to 11 months to build the facility, which will be located near the tapioca factory and close to the wastewater treatment reservoirs.
The factory has improved its wastewater treatment system after reaching an agreement with the relevant state organisations.
It is spending about 5 billion kip on expanding its wastewater treatment system. It is renovating and enlarging its previous three small reservoirs to 11 large ones, covering an area of over 20 hectares.
Residents of Naxon and Natham villages are complaining about unpleasant odours emanating from Lao Indochina Group's tapioca factory in Pakngum district, Vientiane.
The smell is originating from reservoirs used to store and treat waste from the cassava powder production process and villagers are concerned it may have a negative effect on their health.
“The only way to lessen the smell is the use of ‘effective microorganisms', or EM. Or else stop production,” Vientiane Water Resources and Environmental Head of Office, Ms Khamfong Phoumvongxay, said yesterday.
EM is a liquid bacterial product consisting of three groups of bacteria: yeast, photosynthetic bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria. It is commonly used to treat wastewater and waste in the agricultural and livestock industries.
“We don't know if the factory is using sufficient quantities of EM to eliminate odours from the factory's reservoirs or not. We don't have technicians working on this issue,” Ms Khamfong said.
Nearby villagers say the odour is sometimes unbearable and they doubt the factory is treating its waste properly.
Head of the Clean Agriculture Station at the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department, Mr Sengthavy Phothilath, said “The factory only uses EM to reduce odours on certain occasions, such as visits by officials.”
The station provides services relating to the use of EM. The product eliminates odours for around 24 hours. “It would be good if the factory used it more regularly, at least three times per week,” Mr Sengthavy said.
The station has approached the factory offering its services. “But so far there has been no response from the plant,” Mr Sengthavy said.
“The station only charges about 4 to 5 million kip per week for the service.”
Head of the Science Research and Health Education Unit under the Vientiane Public Health Department, Dr Phoupasong Somphou, said “It's good to hear the villagers complaining. However, the odour will not have any serious health effects.”
Mr Phoupasong said the odour will not have detrimental health effects as it is similar to the smell of rotten food and is not dangerous like odours caused by chemical waste.
The unit has worked together with the Vientiane Water Resources and Environment Office to inspect wastewater treatment at the factory.
“We are pleased to help if locals become ill because of the smell,” Mr Phoupasong said.
Pakngum district Governor, Mr Cheu-va Saytong, said people living close to the factory often complain about the smell. However, the reservoirs will be odourless once a proposed biogas plant is completed and becomes operational.
The Thai Biogas Energy Company will build a system to capture gases rising from the treatment reservoirs. Construction is expected to begin next month and the company is currently waiting for the government to grant a licence for the project.
It will take 8 to 11 months to build the facility, which will be located near the tapioca factory and close to the wastewater treatment reservoirs.
The factory has improved its wastewater treatment system after reaching an agreement with the relevant state organisations.
It is spending about 5 billion kip on expanding its wastewater treatment system. It is renovating and enlarging its previous three small reservoirs to 11 large ones, covering an area of over 20 hectares.
if you soak casava in water for a couple days it will smell bad regardless plus i do not understand why the need for water treatment for casava processing provided they are not using any chemical that harms your health...the smell maybe bad....but, boo hoo... to shut them up is to give them the job at the plant...:)
I've watched a TV reported that all the fishes in the river died, the river a main source of food for the people who live near by for many many years...
