Abstract:
Muang Sakon Nakon is located adjacent to Nong Han, the largest fresh-water lake of the north-east region. Thus, Nong Han becomes a source of water supply for Sakon Nakon Municipality. On the other hand, wastewater from the municipality discharges back to Nong Han. As a consequence, impact on water quality of Nong Han is a major concern of urban development. This problem leads to the study that aims to examines a land use pattern of settlement responding to the carrying capacity of existing natural resources especially, Nong Han Lake. Development of lakeside city often affects on water resources, fishing, agriculture, tourism, and public health. In order to mitigate the impacts, technology of water treatment is introduced. This means that the budget including both construction and operation cost have to be provided. However, in practice, as a constraints of expertise and equipment, sometimes only technology is unable to solve the problem. Therefore, concept of feasibility study for pattern of settlement that relates to water use and water discharge may be a support tool for solving wastewater problem of lakeside urban development. In this study, various factors related to Nong Han are considered such as distantces of communities in the study area to bank of the lake, to pumping station of raw water, to treatment plant, to sewerage and drainage system, to pipeline of water supply; and slope of the study area. The factors are analysed for finding out a feasible guideline for development lakeside communities according to population density. The study compared the existing pattern of settlement to the urban planing for Sakon Nakon Municipality. Then, guideline for settlement pattern for solving the problem is suggested. The suggestion of land use for Sakon Nakon Municipality depends heavily on limitation of natural resources available. The distance of urban expansion is a main concern factor. Expansion of urban south-westward from the old municipality along the road no. 213 is recommended. As this area is considered as an area having potential for supporting development in the future.