PATTAYA, THAILAND – A large sewage pipe discharged black, foul-smelling water into the sea off Jomtien Beach for weeks, alarming residents and tourists as officials offered no explanation.
Mysterious pipe at southern end of Jomtien Beach
The rectangular pipe emerged from the sand near the intersection by the Pu Restaurant at the southern tip of Jomtien Beach and released visibly polluted, dark water into the sea, according to eyewitnesses. Parts of the structure lay buried under sand and soil, making it appear to beachgoers as if the large pipe had suddenly “popped up” in the middle of the beach.
Stench drives visitors away
The outflow created a clearly visible black plume in the water, accompanied by an intense, unpleasant odor that dominated the surrounding section. Many visitors avoided the area entirely, neither lying down nearby nor entering the water, as they considered the visible pollution and the stench a potential health risk at the popular bathing spot.
Teenagers raise the alarm
The two 15-year-old students Apiranya Boonngam and Kanokporn Suntornsanit, who regularly visited the beach, reported that they had noticed the pipe for more than two months and believed it had been newly installed.
“We do not know which authority or contractor is responsible for the pipe, and we are irritated that apparently untreated wastewater is being discharged directly and without hindrance into the sea at Jomtien.”
said Apiranya Boonngam and Kanokporn Suntornsanit, students.
Unclear responsibility and safety fears
On social media and among local residents, questions grew over how such an installation could operate openly in a heavily frequented tourist zone without visible supervision or warning signs. At the same time, there was rising concern that the freely accessible pipe could attract children or teenagers and tempt them into dangerous climbing activities.
Calls for urgent inspection
Residents and online commentators called on the responsible bodies, including the city of Pattaya, authorities in Na Jomtien, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and environmental agencies, to carry out an immediate inspection. They demanded that the source of the wastewater and the responsible operator be identified and that short-term measures be taken to stop the discharge and protect the coastal waters.
Environmental and image risk for Pattaya
Critics warned that the continued discharge of polluted water could damage the marine environment, public health and Pattaya’s international image as a seaside resort. Residents urged that the outflow be properly redirected or repaired and that future harm to the beach and sea be systematically prevented.
Background of earlier sewage disputes
The incident followed earlier controversies over wastewater discharges at Jomtien Beach in early February 2026, when contractors for a landscaping and drainage project were accused of pumping accumulated black water directly into the sea. At that time, Pattaya authorities initiated legal action and stated that such discharges violated environmental laws, and investigations into similar infrastructure problems along the coast were still ongoing.
No official statement by mid-February
By 17 February 2026 there had been no public explanation from the responsible authorities regarding the newly reported pipe, even though videos and photos of the outflow had spread widely online. With each additional day that the black liquid flowed into the sea, pressure mounted on those in charge, according to residents, to provide transparency and restore the affected stretch as a safe swimming area for bathers.