BANGKOK, THAILAND –Prof. Wenchao Xue, a faculty member from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and research team visited the Department of Drainage and Sewerage (DDS), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), on 28 August 2026 for a stakeholder consultation. The consultation focused on urban wastewater management, drainage systems, and potential pathways of microplastic pollution in Bangkok.
The consultation was conducted under the project “Enhancing the Science–Policy Interface to Manage Microplastic Influx from Major Cities into the Oceans in Southeast Asia,” which aims to develop a systematic understanding of how microplastics from major urban areas are transported through aquatic systems and ultimately enter marine environments. Bangkok is one of three selected study areas under the project, along with Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Jakarta, Indonesia.
The meeting provided an important opportunity for the AIT research team to exchange technical information with DDS officials and gain a better understanding of Bangkok’s wastewater and drainage infrastructure. Discussions covered wastewater collection and treatment systems, stormwater and overflow management, and key pathways through which water is conveyed to wastewater treatment plants, canals, and receiving water bodies. The participants also exchanged perspectives on current water management practices and potential management approaches to reduce pollutant loads entering urban waterways.
The Stakeholder consultation strengthened engagement between academia and local government authorities and provided valuable practical insights for the ongoing research. The information and perspectives gained from the consultation will contribute to the development of the Source–Pathway–Receptor (SPR) framework and the assessment of microplastic flows in Bangkok, supporting a stronger science–policy interface for addressing urban microplastic pollution and protecting aquatic and marine environments in Southeast Asia.
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