Progress Technology Consultants Co., Ltd. is providing construction supervision services for the construction of Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality Drainage, Wastewater Collection and Treatment Systems Improvement Project.

Nakhon Ratchasima has the largest population in the northeast, ranked second after Bangkok. Nakhon Ratchasima has been designated as a main center of the northeastern regional administration, communication and transportation, commercial business and trade affairs, investment, education, social services and industrial development. The Municipality has greatly expanded in recent years due to fast expansion of industrial development in the communities surrounding the Municipality. The expansion over the years has cause considerable deterioration of water quality in Lam Takhong River, which flows through the Municipality, mainly due to the discharge of untreated sewage. The river has become unsuitable to be used as raw water for the municipal water supply system. The existing wastewater treatment plant capacity is inadequate to treat wastewater currently generated in the municipal area. The drainage system is also inadequate resulting in frequent flooding in certain areas.

The Municipality had commissioned the detailed design of the expansion and improvement of drainage and wastewater collection and treatment systems; the design was completed in 1997. The project area covers the entire municipal area of 37.5 sq.km. The construction phase has been started in January 1998; the Municipality commissioned PTC to undertake construction supervision for the project.

The construction consists of the following components :

• drainage and wastewater collection system: drainage and wastewater collection sewers comprising 29 km of reinforced concrete pipes and box culverts ranging from pipe diameter 1,000 mm up to 2,500 x 2,500 mm box culvert, 3 overflow connection and sewage lift stations
  
  
• wastewater treatment plant: wastewater stabilization pond, capacity of 45,000 cu.m/day (Phase 1).The expected completion date is June 2001.

The services provide in this contract comprise reviewing shop drawings, materials and equipment approval, supervising, inspecting and measuring construction, inspecting materials and equipment delivered on site, witnessing tests of materials and equipment, checking and certifying all payment claims, clarifying and interpreting the contract, monitoring construction schedule and progress, supervising plant commissioning, and operation and maintenance staff training. PTC undertakes coordination among all parties involved such as the Municipality, main contractor, subcontractors and other governmental agencies. PTC also carries out the wastewater tariff study and setting up of tariff structure as well as organization study.