Factors influencing wastewater management performance:
Case study of housing estates in suburban Bangkok, Thailand
Sarunya Sujaritpong*, Vilas Nitivattananon1
Urban Environmental Management Field of Study, School of Environment, Resources and Development,
Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
Received 18 October 2006; received in revised form 3 November 2007; accepted 30 November 2007
Available online 30 January 2008
Abstract
As population densities have risen and settlements become increasingly crowded, wastewater effluent volumes have, not unexpectedly, also
risen. The adverse impacts of effluent from housing estates (HEs) in suburban areas of Thailand, served by local wastewater management
(WWM) systems, are of particular concern. Because of this problem, which reflects the poor performance of WWM systems, it has become
increasingly important that the pivotal factors that hinder WWM improvements be identified and effective solutions be proposed and implemented.
The goal of the research described in this paper was to determine the critical factors influencing WWM performance at HEs in suburban
Bangkok, using multiple regression analysis. Three significant factors encompassing financial, social, institutional and general aspects were
identified for each type of WWM system (community centralized and onsite). For the community centralized system, the key factors were house
price, type of organization managing the HE, and the attitudes of the organization. For onsite systems, the three factors were total number of
house units, direct experience with water pollution and percentage of occupied houses. These findings reflect the importance of having a WWM
that employs an integrated approach rather than focusing on specific aspects in isolation from other factors. WWM performance could be improved
if significant factors indicating high priority concerns were to be identified and properly applied. Addressing the priority concerns could,
consequently, contribute to the development of appropriate environmental management measures, plans, and policies related to HE WWM.
2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Environmental management; Multiple regression analysis; Performance indicator; Suburban area; Wastewater management
1. Introduction
Rapid expansion of small urban centers and a high rate of
growth in suburban developments are common phenomena in
large cities of developing countries. Although most basic
facilities have been moderately developed to accommodate residents,
the expansion of conventional sewer systems to serve
suburban areas has occurred at a very slow pace, or not at
all, due to the high cost of wastewater services (Bakir, 2001).
Through 2001, the capacity of municipal wastewater treatment
facilities could only meet the needs of approximately 30% of
the entire Bangkok Metropolitan Area (Kazmi and Furumai,
2005). Given the significant shortfalls of the major wastewater
treatment system, individual onsite and small-scale, community
centralized wastewater management (WWM) systems
have become preferable alternatives (Parkinson and Kevin,
2003). Other than their appropriateness in terms of economy
of scale, these systems also provide extra benefits which support
sustainable WWM, such as reducing water input, reducing
risks to humans and the environment and increasing reuse opportunities
(Bakir, 2001).
Successful application of localized WWMs will require
several management aspects to be addressed. The World
Health Organization (2000) compiled a guide to a broad
classification of key concerns, including user opinions and
satisfaction, community/household management issues, level
of service, financial performance, materials, personnel,
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ66 (0)2 5246368; fax: þ66 (0)2 5246380.
E-mail addresses: sujaritpong@yahoo.com (S. Sujaritpong), vilasn@ait.
ac.th (V. Nitivattananon).
1 Tel: þ66 (0)2 5245601, 5245777; fax: þ66 (0)2 5246380.
0301-4797/$ - see front matter 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.11.006
Journal of Environmental Management 90 (2009) 455e465
www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvman
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