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JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Hue University, N
0
61, 2010 POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SYSTEM MANAGEMENT, OPERATION
AND MAINTENANCE OF VILLAGE GROUND WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
IN HUAI SAM MOR WATERSHED, KHON KAEN PROVINCE
Chatchawal Kiratiworasakun, Warangkana Sunsitthisawad
Faculty of Public Health, KhonKaen University
Kiksanachai Ruangjab
Water Resources Regional Office 4, Khon Kaen
SUMMARY
In the Huai Sam Mor Watershed, Khon Kaen Province, there are 15 village ground
water supply systems. Recently, only 8 of these systems have kept operating at Sub Somboon
Sub-district, Khoke Pho Chai District, Khon Kaen Province. This survey of village ground water
supply found that the administrative committees and the system operator had never been trained
in water supply management. There was also a lack of system maintenance, lack of daily system
monitoring, no washing of the filter and tower tank as a designated program, a lack of adjusting
the water pressure, and no chlorination before distribution. The major activities of this research
required by the village water supply management committees are to develop the potential
capacity on water supply management by practical training. Being practically trained would
provide knowledge about operation and maintenance of ground water supply management to
the village water supply management committees. After two months of the development training,
an improvement in the water supply system was reported as indicated by cleanliness of the
water supply system area, water pump checking, adjusting the water pressure according to the
tower tanks’ height, and cleaning filter tanks. However, schedules for regular and continuous
performance still relies on the village water supply management committee’s awareness to

not be reduced, chlorine usage is then reduced instead. As a result, the biological
quality of the treated ground water could not pass the standard of drinking ground water
(Ministry of Industry, 2542). Moreover, there is a drought problem during the dry
season. The amount of ground water being pumped is low, which caused low water
pressure in the water pipes. The water demand is getting higher, but the water supply is
not adequate. In addition, the ground water containing limestone or high hardness
causes a blockage in the water pipes. Water supply distribution in some areas has to be
rearranged by setting a schedule time, which causes inconvenience to the water users.
The village ground water supply system, Sub Somboon Sub-district, Khoke Pho
Chai District, Khon Kaen Province, had been faced with the problem of water supply
management (Somkid Singsong, 2552). In order to improve the village water supply
system to produce clean tap- water safe for consumption, requires an efficient system of
management. The research for the potential development is necessary in order to find a
way to improve the village groundwater supply system management including operation
and maintenance systems. All of which are the fundamental public utilities that are
required for improving quality of life.
Objectives
This research aims to study the operation and maintenance of village ground
water supply systems which are operated by the village water supply management
committee, and to study the means of potential development of system management,
operation and maintenance 247
Scope of Research
1. Conduct the potential development of village groundwater supply system by
discussing the requirements of the village water supply management committees in all
eight places. This is to improve the operation and maintenance system according to the
designed schedule that would further improve the water quality to a certain level.
2. Study the village water supply system focusing on the ground water supply
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of the operator.
2.3.2. A questionnaire for interviewing the village water supply management
committees consisted of 2 parts. 1) General data of the village water supply
management committees including the duration of holding the post, how to achieve the
current post holding, other duties in the village, and training to manage the village
water supply system, etc. 2) The performance status in human resources, finance,
materials, and management.
2.3.3. A questionnaire for interviewing the village water supply operators
comprising of 3 parts. 1) General data about the operator including duration of the
holding the post, how they came to hold the current post, other duties in the village, and
the training to manage the village water supply system, etc. 2) Operational data of
building systems according to the maintenance schedule, which is modified from the
operation assessment according to the maintenance schedule of Water Resource
Department (2549). 3) An open-end questionnaire for the maintenance problems in
water supply system.
2.4. Procedure
2.4.1. The purpose of the research (November, 2551) was stated during a
monthly meeting for the Sub Somboon Sub-district Administrative Organization and
cooperation in the research from the community leader, the water supply management
committees was requested.
2.4.2. The problems in the operation of village water supply systems from the
operators point of view were studied by using checklists and direct interviews.
2.4.3. The problems in management were studied by interviewing the village
water supply management committees about the management and operation process.
2.4.4. The groundwater quality criteria of the project entitled “ Tap Water
Quality and Satisfaction of Water Users to village Ground Water Supply in Huai
Sam Mor Basin, Khon Kaen Province (Warangkana, Chatchawal, and Kiksanachai,

The village water supply system operated by the village water supply
management committees, under the responsibility of Sub Somboon Sub-district
Administrative Organization, Khoke Pho Chai District, is the small scale of deep water
supply, which has an angle-corner-shape of equal-side pentagon. This design is
according to the former pattern of the Department of Mineral Resources (former),
Ministry of Industry, and Water Supply Division, Public Works Department (former),
Ministry of the Interior. The village water supply system started with pumping
groundwater from a deep well to the aeration unit, where dissolved iron and manganese
are precipitated. Then the water is pumped to be stored in the tower storage tank of 12
cubic meters in capacity. The water is distributed using the pressure from the tower
storage tank through iron and manganese filter tank, without chlorine addition, into the
distribution line to the consumers via water meter.
Before implementation of potential development, the condition of the village
groundwater supply system of 8 places was noted as follows. There was no sign
indicating animal raising was prohibited in the area. Almost all water supply systems
distribute water for a whole day except one place distributes water only morning to
evening due to insufficient water. Half of the water supply systems (4 places) had not
been cleaned around the area of deep well, tower tank, filter tank, and were covered
with overgrown grass and garbage. All deep wells were equipped with PVC pipes. Two
deep wells ‘PVC pipes were covered with weeds and garbage. All water supply systems 250
have water pumps, which were in good shape and maintenance. However, the operator
did not perform the following aspects; adjusting the pumping control system, cleaning
the tower tank and filter tank, and adding chlorine before distributing water to the
consumers ( Tables 4 and 5).
3.1.2. System management
System administration of the village water supply is under the responsibility of
the village headman. This research studied 7 villages and 8 groundwater supply systems.
251
the others were one worker and one businessman. They were working as water supply
operator for an average of 5.86+6.59 years (20 years was the longest, and 1 year was the
shortest.). They became the village water supply operator from the selection by
villagers (4 persons), by the head of village, (2 persons) and by Sub-district
Administrative Organization (1 person). None of them had ever undergone the training
for water supply system operation and maintenance.
The criteria of selection of the village water supply system operator varied
among villages. The criteria were set by the study team in questionnaire. The
interviewee could give more than one answer. 5 villages selected the persons who could
do accounting; 4 villages chose the person who knew about electricity, and 2 villages
did not identify any criteria. Regarding the compensation, 4 villages did not get any
compensation, while 3 villages received compensation of 250 baht; 1,000 baht, and
2,000 baht. The persons who are responsible for recording water use unit data were the
operator (2 villages), committee (2 villages), treasurer (2 villages), and headman (1
village). The person whose jobs are collection of water utility bills were the committee
members (3 villages), treasurer (2 villages), operator (1 village), and headman (1
village). The person who managed the accounting were the treasurer (4 villages ); the
headmen (2 villages); and the committee (1 village ).
3.1.4. Finance
Four villages did not have financial support for the operation while 3 villages
received financial support for the operation of 10,000-12,000 baht from Sub-Somboon
Sub-district Administrative Organization. The main income of 6 villages was from the
water utility bills. the other was from the water utility bills and financial support from
Sub Somboon Sub-district Administrative Organization.
In all water supply units, the consumers pay bill based on the amount of used
water meter. The price per a water meter was different among villages 5 baht (4
villages); 4 Baht (2 villages) and 3 baht (1 village). The bill paid was declared by the

accounts because they did not deposit the money at the bank. Almost all villages, 6
villages had the accounting for the water supply units correctly and completely. Only
one village did not have accounting for the water supply unit.
Most villages, 4 villages broadcasted the information about the water supply and
monthly income. While 3 villages did not inform or broadcasted such information. The
operation data for water production, expense and financial records were audited in 4
villages. For 3 villages, they had never inspected or followed up the operation.
3.1.7. Quality of tap water
The data of tap water quality before the potential development project was
drawn from the study of Warangkana, et al 2552 as mentioned previously. It was found
that the sample of tap water from all the distribution sources did not meet the standard
of drinking deep well water. For all water supply units, the water quality problem was
due to chemical and toxic substances. For biological criteria, 2 water supply units did
not meet the standard. All water supply units met the physical standard. The water
quality parameters exceeding the standard were Cadmium, Iron, Permanent Hardness,
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Nitrate, and Total Coliform Bacteria
There were 16 water quality parameters studied in this research, including color,
turbidity, pH, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cl, No
3-
, Total Hardness as CaCO3, Permanent Hardness,
TDS, Cd , Total Bacteria were determined by the Standard Plate Count, Multiple
Tube Technique (MPN) for Coliform and E.coli. It was found that the tap water sample
collected from the distribution of Ban Sub Somboon # 1, Ban Nonsawang and Ban Sub
Somboon #2 and Ban Nachan. Distribution met the Water Quality Standard of Drinking 253
Water of Deep Well as 93.75%, 87.50%, 75% of total studied water quality parameters,
respectively.
3.2. Potential development in system management, water supply operation

Charearn, where the system structure is the pattern of Department of Mineral Resources
(former), Ministry of the Industry.
3.2.4. Pre-tests and post-tests were conducted to know the trainee/ participants’
general knowledge of water supply production, operation and maintenance. The
maximum score was 25 for 25 questions. A total 35 people participated in the test. 254
Before the training course, the average score was 6.76 + 3.97. After the training course,
the average score was 16.03 + 4.49. The score was 9.27 higher in average. The average
score after the course was significantly higher than the one before the course in terms of
statistics (p-value < 0.05) (as shown in Table 2). Before the workshop, the question that
most trainees answered correctly question no.12 that is the main pipes should be laid out
deep under the ground according to the designed plan. The second was question no.2,
that was water in the orchard canal and vegetable patch were not the surface water
source and they could not be used to produce tap water. In term of question no.20, that
is sand filter should be cleaned every 2 days or 24 hours of the operation or when
blockage was found. The questions were answered correctly at 74.29%, 54.29%, and
48.57%, respectively. The question that the trainees answered incorrectly the most was
no.10 to check the residual chlorine in the village water supply system, the water from
the ending tap of the main water distribution. For question no.21, the residual chlorine
was checked when chlorine had contact with the water for at least 30 minutes and this
should be done at the end of the pipe. And question no.19, when the water pump was
not functioning as normal, the yellow light at the front of the water pump control panel
would be on. The questions were answered correctly 5.74%, 5.74%, and 8.57%,
respectively. The question that all the trainees could not answered was 1 phase electric
power between 220-240 volts (as shown in Table 3).
After the workshop, the question that the trainees all answered correctly was no.
13, that PVC pipes used as water supply pipes should be blue. Next was question No. 17
is that the good quality of the water supply operator was diligent, eager to learn the

not do chlorination before distribution because the consumers and the village water
supply management committees did not realize the importance and chlorine was smelly.
For the water quality evaluation, the water samples were collected from the
distribution units. The water quality, in terms of chemical and the contaminants were
tested repeatedly during February, 2552. It was found that the water in Ban Sub
Charearn had iron content met the standard. for Cadmium, permanent hardness, total
dissolved solids, and nitrate contents in water samples collected from all places did not
meet the standard. The water quality needed to be improved in order to reduce the
contamination. For the biological water quality, it was found that the water sample
collected from Ban Sub Dang and Ban Nachan had high bacteria content. It did not
meet the Standard of drinking Water for deep wells (Ministry of the Industry, 2542).
4. Conclusion
The Potential Development in System management, Operation and Maintenance
of Village Groundwater Supply Systems in Huai Sam Mor Watershed, Sub Somboon
Sub-district, Khoke Pho Chai District, Khon Kaen Province, seemed to be a moderate
success. The main activity required for developing the potential that the village water
supply management committeeswas the workshop which would help them improve the
system management, and operating and maintaining the system correctly. The good
practice for consistency and continuity of good water quality production depended on
the personal responsibility and the awareness of the village water supply management
committees.
Acknowledgement
The researchers would like to thank the Integrated Water Resource Management
Research and Development Center in Northeast Thailand, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon
Kaen University (IWRM-KKU) for the funding support for the research. Thankfulness
is given to the lecturers from Water Management Section 4, Water Resource Regional
Office 4, Khon Kaen Province for participating in the workshop and sharing the
knowledge with the village water supply management committees, supply controllers,