Phuket

enthaiced · #1 12-03-2007, 06:18

I have to admit I was pretty surprised with the bad odour that was all over Beach Road during my stay last month. First night I could barely sleep! As days went by, I got accustomed to it, but these guys have a serious problem with their sewers! I remember one day they put some kind of blankets on top of the sewers to reduce the smell!

Have you guys experienced anything similar?

sishow · #2 12-03-2007, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by enthaiced

I have to admit I was pretty surprised with the bad odour that was all over Beach Road during my stay last month. First night I could barely sleep! As days went by, I got accustomed to it, but these guys have a serious problem with their sewers! I remember one day they put some kind of blankets on top of the sewers to reduce the smell!

Have you guys experienced anything similar?

Its the same in most tropical or hot places, especially around Asia. It is the sewers, but the temp is the basic cause. You better get used to it if you are going to go back again though. Try changing hotel to another area, at lest then you will be able to sleep!

Im sure a more experienced BM could tell you the exact reason why it happens, and why it seems to be concentrated in certain areas!

enthaiced · #3 12-03-2007, 08:00

They must understand it themselves though because a Thai guide we had, mentioned once that Thais don't go to Patong/Karon/Kata beach because it smells and it's only for tourists!

sishow · #4 12-03-2007, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by enthaiced

They must understand it themselves though because a Thai guide we had, mentioned once that Thais don't go to Patong/Karon/Kata beach because it smells and it's only for tourists!

This is most likely due to the amount of people using the toilets in a small area. The old sewer system just cant cope with moving it quicker enough out! Well thats my thinking anyway!

MrDK · #5 12-03-2007, 08:11

I am in the business of the detection of toxic gases, so to me it is the smell of money.

Heat has some to do with it, however, the openness of the sewer systems and often the combination of sewers and storm drains tend to be the culprit. The gas you smell is Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and is water soluble so aeration can have a "short term' effect.

About safety: Hydrogen Sulfide has a very low odor threshold; for most people in the order of 0.01PPM (parts per million). H2S is considered toxic if the exposure is in excess of 10 PPM continuously (avg) over an 8-hour period or an instantaneous exposure of 20+ PPM. In other words, in open air there is no way you can be harmed from the gases that escapes the sewer.

LivinLOS · #6 12-03-2007, 08:16

The drains smell much worse in last couple of years than they did before..

Once the rains come it tends to flush out the storm drains..

dizbuster · #7 12-03-2007, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

...Once the rains come it tends to flush out the storm drains..

I was also gonna say this, a good downpour usually "shifts" the problem

enthaiced · #8 12-03-2007, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

The drains smell much worse in last couple of years than they did before..

Just a guess, but perhaps the tsunami has caused damage to the wastewater network?

ATMwalking · #9 12-03-2007, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by enthaiced

I remember one day they put some kind of blankets on top of the sewers to reduce the smell!

Your learning all the secrets!

Yep, it is that time of year again. Pretty discusting smell when I was last in. It's just the way it is. dizbuster is right in that the rain will just push a lot of it into the ocean. The wastewater plant wasn't damaged as it is pretty far inland. Just that upgrades haven't been completed as of yet.

I though I read at one point they could take in sea water to flush the street sewers when it got bad. No?

MrDK · #10 12-03-2007, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

I though I read at one point they could take in sea water to flush the street sewers when it got bad. No?

That would increase the water flow (displacement and dilution), however, it would make final disposal more difficult, unless if the ocean is the disposal site.

enthaiced · #11 12-03-2007, 10:07

Thing is I was staying at the Palm Beach which is on Beach Road with some mates. First night we all woke up from the smell and couldn't imagine it's going to be like that for the rest of our holiday... Nice hotel and such (I write it in the relevant topic), but I'll stay away next time and look for another place more inland.

sledge038 · #12 12-03-2007, 10:36

ive never really known it to be as bad as mentioned.
although all my trips so far have been may/june. maybe more rain then???
i do know the smell and ive smelt it in bkk as well but, mainly as you pass a grate on the road covering the storm drains.
i guess ill find out mid next month when i arrive.
i just thought it was an asian/tropical thing as sishow had mentioned....

ATMwalking · #13 12-03-2007, 12:27

Yep, the rain in april/may/june helps flush things. It hasn't really rained for about 3 months, so it smells pretty bad. It's a seasonal thing.

Robaht · #14 12-03-2007, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizbuster

I was also gonna say this, a good downpour usually "shifts" the problem

Yes, but will it shift the problem to the beaches?? Oh dear. If everyone in Patong could just try to hold it for a few days, maybe the sewer system could start to recover??

I have to admit, the smelly situation is pretty bad now - heck, even on the motorbike zipping along rat-u-tit you can still be overwhelmed!

On the other hand, you know when you drive from Patong to Karon, and you drive around the corner right before climbing the hill to Safari? Haven't noticed the overwhelming noxious smell lately -- maybe it has finally dried out? Or they fixed it? (ha ha ha ha, yeah, right...)

Denver · #15 12-03-2007, 20:56

mmmmmmmmm Get a couple of nostrils full of the stuff........I used to wind the taxi window down when dropping down the hill after a time away...........Get a good whiff of that H2S and knew I was on holiday!

Puts hairs on yer chest..............Not good for Ladyboys though!

sishow · #16 12-03-2007, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver

mmmmmmmmm Get a couple of nostrils full of the stuff........I used to wind the taxi window down when dropping down the hill after a time away...........Get a good whiff of that H2S and knew I was on holiday!

Puts hairs on yer chest..............Not good for Ladyboys though!

To be honest Dad! I never noticed the smell until after you arrived!

ATMwalking · #17 12-03-2007, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver

mmmmmmmmm Get a couple of nostrils full of the stuff........I used to wind the taxi window down when dropping down the hill after a time away...........Get a good whiff of that H2S and knew I was on holiday!

Puts hairs on yer chest..............Not good for Ladyboys though!

Denver...you OK? That was a Rosso-free post. I'm a little concerned.

Coolhand · #18 12-03-2007, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDK

H2S is considered toxic if the exposure is in excess of 10 PPM continuously (avg) over an 8-hour period or an instantaneous exposure of 20+ PPM. In other words, in open air there is no way you can be harmed from the gases that escapes the sewer.

I thought the TVEL of H2S had been reduced to 5ppm?

MrDK · #19 12-03-2007, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolhand

I thought the TVEL of H2S had been reduced to 5ppm?

The values differ from place to place. The TLV (Threshold Limit Value) is determined by ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) and that is also 5PPM. I am not sure if TVEL (E may mean Exposure) is derived from ACGIH or if if is an independent "standard". The TLV values are recommendations only but are adopted by some enforcement agencies and not by others. In most of EU and all of Canada/US the TLV for H2S has not been adapted (different story for other gases). The TLV for H2S is, however, may soon change to 2PPM.

Either way the smell from the sewers (in open air) is a nuisance at worst and as bad as it may smell in not a general health risk.

enthaiced · #20 13-03-2007, 00:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDK

Either way the smell from the sewers (in open air) is a nuisance at worst and as bad as it may smell in not a general health risk.

What about though in the Beach Rd hotel rooms? This is not open air and it's there with you all night long.

MrDK · #21 13-03-2007, 02:05

The gas would have to travel through open air (I guess) to get to your room. By then it would be so diluted that it is not even measurable with conventional instruments; yet it still stinks.

palaceboy · #22 13-03-2007, 17:44

Could the smell come from the sea water, some of the other beaches in Phuket has reported bad smell from brownish seawater.

MrDK · #23 13-03-2007, 18:57

Marine sediments is another potential source of H2S gases (microbial action), however, the brownish waters reported recently was concluded to be something else.

Patriot · #24 13-03-2007, 18:59

I had to walk around Bangla and Rat-U-Thit today around midday and the OP is right, it stinks. More so by far than the previous 9 years Ive been here.