Chiang Mai moat water cleared safe for Songkran splashing

Chiang Mai Municipality took its water-testing kit to the moat this morning, with mayor Assanee Buranupakorn leading officials to a spot opposite Wat Lok Molee — one of the busiest Songkran water-fight zones in the city — to assess whether the moat is ready for the festival.

Results came back reassuring: a pH reading of 7.55, placing the water firmly within the Class 3–4 standard suitable for general use and direct skin contact. It is NOT drinking water, officials were careful to note, but it is safe to splash and be splashed with.

The municipality has been working on moat water quality since late March, running 17,000 cubic metres of fresh irrigation water through the system daily to keep it circulating and clean. Additional treatments include aeration, chlorination and the introduction of beneficial microorganisms to reduce wastewater contamination, with rubbish and leaf litter cleared from the moat twice daily, morning and evening.

Responding to social media scepticism about whether improvement efforts were genuine, the mayor pointed to the pH readings as evidence, adding that conditions this year were good enough that the usual lime-spreading step was not required.

From 12th April onwards, municipal officers, firefighters and other personnel will be stationed around the moat area throughout the festival to ensure public safety for both residents and tourists.