Kamonkan Khumchoo. The acceptance of water supply as drinking water among people in a certified drinkable water supply area : a case study of Banhnongnoen Moo 4 Tambon Huathanon, Thatako district, Nakhon Sawan province, Thailand . Master's Degree(Environment). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
The acceptance of water supply as drinking water among people in a certified drinkable water supply area : a case study of Banhnongnoen Moo 4 Tambon Huathanon, Thatako district, Nakhon Sawan province, Thailand
Abstract:
The objectives of this study were to ascertain the level of acceptance of a water
supply as drinking water, and investigate the factors that affect the acceptance and
obstacles to acceptance. The data were collected in 2 parts. (1) A quantitative study of a
sample group of 240 people aged 15-65 years old formed the basic of the first part, with
data collected in the form of an interview. (2)In depth interviews and focus groups formed
the basic of the second part, providing qualitative data on the view of selected individuals
and groups. Specifically, the head of the health center, the water supply management board,
a group of people who accept the water supply as drinking water, and a group of
people who do not were interviewed. The analysis of quantitative data uses Multiple
Logistic Regression Analysis. The conclusion of the study can be summarized as
follows:
The majority of people accept the water supply as drinking water. Support of
the government is the most significant factor in acceptance. The second significant
factor is occupation. The turbidity of the water supply and chlorine odor in the water
supply are also significant factors. Support of the government, occupation and
chlorine odor have a positive correlation but the turbidity of the water supply has a
negative correlation. These 4 factors can forecast 82.2 % of the acceptance of the
water supply as drinking water. Other factors are a lack of rain water and a lack of
confidence in the cleanliness of rain water
The obstacles to acceptance of the water supply as drinking water are turbidity
of the water supply, chlorine odor and the infrequency of the water supply.
Recommendations from this study are (1) Government officers need to ensure
that the water supply management board has up to date knowledge with regard to the
maintenance of the water supply system. (2) An advertising campaign should be
implemented to encourage people to drink the water supply. (3) Government officers
should work with the mass media to promote the water supply as drinking water. (4)
The water supply system should be well maintained, and (5) the test results of the
water supply should be made publicly available