Factors Affecting Role of Lower Tha Chin Riverine People in Water Resource Conservation, Tha Chin Sub-district, Muang District, Samut Sakhon Province

Abstract

The objectives of the research were to determine the socio-economic condition and utilization of water resource, and to determine the factors affecting the role of the lower Tha Chin riverine people in water resource conservation. The sampling data were collected from questionnaires conducted with 370 households from a total of 4,762 households. The statistical analysis was based on frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, F-test, and a least significant difference pairwise test with a significance level of 0.05. The results of the study indicated that 29% of the respondents were born in the study area, almost all were males aged between 20 and 29 y, worked as employees, and had a net income per month between 5,001 and 10,000 baht. Housing was characterized by a detached house and most people had lived in their hometown for about 1–10 y. Only 4% of the respondents were involved in a conservation group. There were three conservation groups: 1) the Tha Chin conservation group, 2) the mangrove forest conservation group, and 3) the environmental conservation group. However, most respondents had never been trained in environmental conservation. Furthermore, utilization of water resources was almost solely for transport; tap water was a major water supply for non-potable uses and drinking water had to be bought. Wastewater was allocated through sewers. Hypothesis testing determined that the net income factor and the environmental training experience factor significantly (p < 0.05) affected the role of respondents in water resource conservation. In contrast, the sex, age, occupation, education, duration of living in home town, social group membership, receiving news and information about water resource conservation, comprehension and understanding about conservation of water resources, and awareness on water pollution did not affect the role of respondents in of water resource conservation.

Keywords:  factors affecting role, lower Tha Chin riverine people, water resource conservation