BREWER MAKING THE MOST OF WATER

       Producing one litre of beer results in anywhere from three to 10 litres of waste water. Every day thousands of cubic metres of waste water are are returned back into the natural environment - be it into our front-door canal or holiday ocean.
       Like other industries that create waste water, Thai Asia Pacific Brewery Co (TAPB) has long adopted water treatment technology to reduce its environmental impact.
       However, the 1,500 cubic metres a day of treated water that flow out of the brewery, while harmless, still has a light yellow colour which the company fears may repulse local people, said Panya Pongtanya, TAPB's general manager.
       "Our system can normally keep the water quality within the required level,but we want to make the water absolutely clear," Mr Panya said."We've taken interest in the Laem Phak Bia Royal Project which takes a nature-by-nature approach to treat waste water to add into our existing water treatment system."
       TAPB last month launched the Water for Life project in partnership with the Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project and Kasetsart University's College of Environmental Studies.
       The project aims to increase the efficiency of the brewery's wastewater treatment by using the same system as Laem Phak Bia.
       The Laem Phak Bia project adopted His Majesty's Royal Guidance on getting nature to help nature in treating wastewater in Phetchaburi province in 1990.
       Kasem Chunkao, director of the Laem Phak Bia project and dean of Kasetsart University's College of Environmental Studies, is head of the research team responsible for the project.
       The nature-by-nature approach relies on the co-functioning of plants and micro-organisms in the soil to treat effluent, said Prof Dr Kasem.
       "The key is to use water plants to add oxygen to the water to better assist bacteria in breaking down organic matter in the water," he said."Now we're conducting research whether what kind of plants would be best for the project."
       Environmental experts from the Laem Phak Bia project and Kasetsart have been advising TAPB on the best treatment systems and have recommended either constructing a wetland or using a plant and grass filtration system.
       In a constructed wetland system, pretreated water is continuously channelled into the wetland where it is stored for one day and treated. After one day, the treated wastewater is released into natural water sources.
       In a plant and grass filtration system,pre-treated water is funneled into the treatment plot and kept for five days.After five days, the treated wastewater is released, and the plot is then left to dry for two days before the next batch of wastewater is channelled into the system.
       In recent months a five-rai plot at the TAPB brewery has been used to test the research. The area has been divided into five cultivation plots to grow three common local plants - Typha, Canna and pasture grass.
       "The simple and cost-effective technology would also help us save electricity costs as such a system does not require power," said Mr Panya.
       TAPB's current water treatment system is electricity intensive. About 30%of its water treatment system uses aerobic treatment, adding air to help bacteria break down organic matter.
       "We hope the new system could replace that," said Mr Panya.
       The brewery's neighbouring community can also benefit from the Water for Life project, he said, as every 45 to 90 days the company will hire local people to harvest new plants needed for the treatment system.
       "Community members are able to use the harvested grass as animal feed and the harvested plants for weaving into local handicrafts that can be sold to generate extra income," Mr Panya said.
       Prof Dr Kasem said the technology could be applied to all industries and the project is expected to serve as a learning centre for all interested parties.
       Do you know of an interesting or well-received CSR programme that deserves recognition?Contact pornnalatp@bangkokpost.co.th