Khlong Saen Saep

Khlong Saen Saep is a major canal located in central Thailand.

This waterway connects the Chao Phraya River to Chachoengsao and Prachinburi provinces. It acts as a vital drainage artery for the city of Bangkok. The canal spans a total length of 72 kilometers. It passes through 21 different districts during its journey. Furthermore, it is linked to more than 100 smaller canals. This vast network helps manage water flow across the region.

The history of the canal began with a military necessity. King Rama III ordered its construction during a conflict between Siam and Annam. The dispute involved control over Cambodia. The canal was intended to create a water transport route for soldiers and weapons. Construction started in 1837 and lasted for three years. The total cost was 96,000 Baht. In modern terms, this is approximately 480 million baht when adjusted for inflation.

In the past, the canal had a very different appearance. It was once filled with lotus plants. This natural feature influenced the local geography and naming. King Mongkut, also known as Rama IV, built the Sa Pathum Palace in the Siam District. The name Sa Pathum means Lotus Pond Palace. This historical connection gave rise to the name of the present-day Pathum Wan District.

Today, the canal serves as an important transport route in busy Bangkok. An express boat service operates between the Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Bang Kapi districts. These boats provide a ferry service to help people avoid traffic congestion on the roads. The service follows a specific route through the city. The northern line of the service ends at the Golden Mount. The southern line ends at NIDA. The boats travel past the Watthana and Huai Khwang districts. They run parallel to Petchaburi Road.

Despite its utility, the canal faces significant environmental challenges. It is currently heavily polluted by various urban sources. A survey by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) identified 412 sources of pollution along the banks. These sources included 62 hospitals and 107 restaurants. Other polluters included 14 markets, 66 hotels, 144 condominiums, 81 department stores, and 157 homes.

To manage this, the government has taken several legal actions. Between October 2015 and January 2017, the PCD inspected 210 potential polluters. They found that 40 percent of hotels were discharging wastewater illegally. Additionally, 23 percent of hospitals and 20 percent of department stores were found to be in violation. Condominiums had a 50 percent violation rate. The PCD charged the 49 worst offenders with illegal discharge. These offenders must pay a fine of 2,000 baht every day. They must continue paying until they fix their waste management systems. The remaining 363 establishments were ordered to improve their treatment standards.

Efforts to restore the canal are ongoing. In 2015, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha began a two-year cleanup effort. This work took place during 2017 and 2018. In June 2019, the PCD reported that water quality had improved. However, a recent survey identified 720 pollution sources along the canal's length. At least 253 of these sources now face daily fines of 2,000 baht. Officials are also considering new ways to fund cleanliness. They proposed a wastewater treatment fee of 0.43 baht per cubic metre. They also planned to charge tourists 50 baht for treatment. This could bring in 1.5 billion baht annually based on 2016 tourist numbers. Such measures aim to protect all rivers and canals for the next 20 years.