Author(s): Vichit Rangpan, Nurainee Lohyapa
The purpose of this research aimed to study the heavy metal contamination in natural water source area in ThamThalu sub-district, Bannang Sata district, Yala province regarding land use, examination of the quantity of heavy metal contamination in natural water source, seasonal variation of the quantity of heavy metal contamination in natural water source, the relationship of heavy metal, lead, cadmium, and arsenic, and method of prevention and improvement of the problems of heavy metal contamination. The water samples from 15 different areas were monthly collected from October 2013 – April 2014 by the one-sample method. In one procedure; the entire samples would be analyzed to find the contamination such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Mean, standard deviation, t-test, F – test, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed in the study. The results were as follows: Sources of heavy metal contamination are an upstream area which is a forest area; midstream which is an agricultural and forest area; downstream which is a residential and agricultural area. A heavy metal consists of lead, cadmium, and arsenic. The average results are 0.015 mg/L, 0.004 mg/L, and 0.054 mg/L respectively. The contamination of heavy metals in each source is different. There are relationships between lead, cadmium, and arsenic (p<0.01). Moreover, there is no concrete and continuous restoration. In the rainy season, the soil is eroded and the chemical usage of the residential and agricultural areas is increased which is the cause of heavy metal contamination. Problems, including, people's lack of awareness and participation in taking care of water sources. Guidelines of water source management shed light on providing knowledge to the community with normal and correct methods and setting up the water source restoration group.