Sustainability analysis for the lower Chao Phraya River using system dynamics approach

The Chao Phraya river is the most well-known river in Thailand. It provides water resources to the population and serves the main transportation route, and recreational places, with a diverse ecosystem. Water quality issues in the Chao Phraya river have been well-documented in the literature. Additionally, the ill conditions of the river are easily noticed by people who travel nearby the river. The government has enforced rules and regulations to mitigate the environmental problems in the river. However, problems still exist. In this research, we construct a system dynamics (SD) model, called ChaoPSD. The proposed model includes three subsystems: (1) household, (2) industry, and (3) agriculture. This model tracks the nitrogen load in the lower Chao Phraya river over time. After the model validation, ChaoPSD is used as a tool for a better comprehension of the interrelationships among the actions of users and the health of the river. The simulation results show that there will be an increasing amount of nitrogen in the Chao Phraya river from 2018 to 2023. We suggest that controlling the discharged nitrogen by increasing the efficiency of wastewater treatment and increasing people’s awareness are essential for environmental sustainability in the Chao Phraya river.