Factors Affecting Participation In Wastewater Management Programs: Thalenoi Non-Hunting Area Phatthalung Province, Thailand

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to investigate factors influencing the participation of families living within the ThaleNoi Non-hunting Area in processes or programs that reduce the discharge of untreated wastewater generated in Spikerush dyeing in Thailand. We distributed questionnaires to the 850 families in the study region whose livelihoods included Spikerush dyeing. The quantitative data for socioeconomic condition and political issue of the study area were collected. Using linear regression, we found that 5 of the 15 variables tested were significantly related to a family’s likelihood of participating in processes or programs that reduce the discharge of untreated wastewater (Y) according to the equation: Y = 0.169X₉ + 0.272X₁₂ + 0.131X₁₃ + 0.878X₁₄ + 0.317X₁₅ – 0.197. The five significant variables include (1) pressure from relatives or other individuals to join wastewater management programs (X₉), (2) recognition of the importance of preserving public properties (X₁₂), (3) participation in community meetings (X₁₃), (4) ability to acknowledge problems associated with the discharge of untreated wastewater (X₁₄), and (5) participation in political issues (X₁₅). Given these results, we recommend the use of a Participatory Learning Process to educate local people regarding the danger that heavy metal contamination related to Spikerush dyeing wastewater can pose to the health of people and biodiversity in the area. We also advocate Participatory Action Research (PAR) so that stakeholders can discuss and select the most agreeable solutions for the disposal and treatment of wastewater from Spikerush dyeing.