Chiang Rai residents fear toxic contamination despite tap water safety assurances

CHIANG RAI — 15 November 2026, Some residents of Mae Sai district are hesitant to consume tap water or use it for cooking, despite assurances from the government that the local water supply is safe. Concerns over possible contamination from upstream mining operations have led to lingering doubts about the water's safety. While government agencies stated that water quality tests conducted by the Provincial Waterworks Authority’s Mae Sai branch indicated the tap water was safe for normal household use, residents remain skeptical.

Det Chutri, a motorcycle taxi operator near Mae Sai’s First Friendship Bridge border checkpoint, now buys bottled water for drinking and cooking, using tap water only for bathing and washing dishes. He acknowledged no unusual symptoms but expressed ongoing concerns about potential contamination. Residents have also reduced or stopped eating fish caught from local waterways due to worries about long-term health risks.

This situation underscores a discrepancy between official assurances and public confidence in the safety of Mae Sai’s water supply.