Water chemistry of the River Kwai, Thailand

Abstract

The water chemistry of the River Kwai Noi, its tributaries, and the neighbouring Kwai Yai is shown to be dominated heavily by calcium bicarbonate. Water arriving as rain from the sea to the west readily picks up the alkaline earth bicarbonate from the abundant limestone in the catchment. The river is turbid but well oxygenated. It will soon be impounded by a new dam, the Khao Laem project.