Waste Water Treatment and Recycling from Bang Khen Hawker Centers via SBR Systems for Urban Green Spaces: Case Study of Soi Ram Intra 2 "15-Minute Park"
Background & Significance
Bang Khen District has implemented a policy to organize regulate street vendors by relocating them to a designated Hawker Center within the Soi Ram Intra 2 15-Minute Park. This initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve enhance urban order. However, the concentration of food vendors has resulted in an increased volume of wastewater, which requires systematic management in accordance with applicable legal standards.
As a dedicated ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) partner in Bang Khen District, AssetWise Public Company Limited has continuously advanced sustainability initiatives, such as the "Separate, Pour, Dry" waste management project, the installation of solar energy systems, and the establishment of the Net Zero+ Learning Center. Recognizing that waste water management is a critical "missing piece" in the ESG learning ecosystem, AssetWise has collaborated with the Bang Khen District Office and local vendors.
Together, we are developing an efficient waste water treatment system designed to convert effluent into high-quality recycled water. This treated water is then reused for irrigation within the park, establishing a sustainable circular water system that delivers tangible benefits to both the community and the environment.
Objectives
- Compliance Assessment: To analyze the quality of waste water discharged from vendors after treatment through grease traps and septic tanks, in order to determine compliance with official effluent standards.
- Efficiency Evaluation: assess the performance and treated water quality of the Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system, ensuring its suitability for recycling and reuse purposes.
- Prototype Development: To develop a scalable waste water management model that can serve as a prototype for future Hawker Centers, cafeterias, or other urban food hubs.
Waste water Treatment and Recycling System Flow Diagram
Table: Analysis of Influent and Effluent Quality in the SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor) System
1) Notification of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Regarding the Determination of Effluent Standards for Waste water Discharge from Certain Building Types and Sizes. Dated June 28, 2024. Published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette, Vol. 141, Special Issue 233 Ng, dated August 27, 2024 (Building Category D).
2) According to Recycled Water Standardsr
Results
The waste water treatment experiment at the Bang Khen Hawker Center (Soi Ram Intra 2) utilizing the Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system demonstrates a tangible success in transforming pollutants into valuable water resources. The study found that waste water treated solely through primary processes, such as grease traps and septic tanks, still contains high levels of contaminants and "fails to meet legal effluent standards." Discharging such untreated water would result in significant adverse impacts on the surrounding ecosystem.
However, following the implementing of advanced treatment through the SBR system, water quality significantly improved, "consistently meeting official effluent standards." The treated water is of sufficient quality to be upgraded to "Recycled Water" for safe irrigation within the 15-Minute Park. This initiative reduces reliance on municipal water supplies and supports the sustainable expansion of urban green spaces.
This success extends beyond Bang Khen District; serving as a Scalable Prototype that can be replicated to other hawker centers or regulated vendor projects in the future. By reducing pollution in public water bodies and enhancing resource efficiency in line with the Circular Economy principle, this model makes a tangible contribution toward the achievement of long-term ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives.