EM naturally attach themselves to harmful micro-organisms, neutralizing odours and cleaning stagnant water.

On resort islands like Phuket, water contamination presents a serious challenge, both for residents and those working within the hospitality industry. Widespread construction and development can disturb the natural balance and the water is one of the first resources affected. A constantly growing transient population, combined with high volumes of human and residual waste mean that if solutions can’t be found, pollution quickly takes hold. EM, or Effective Micro-organisms, offer an effective, natural answer to the problem of wastewater treatment and many residents and businesses around the island are already using EM products to clean and protect their natural surroundings.

Effective Micro-organisms were first developed by Professor Teruo Higa at the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. Concerned by the damaging effects of agrochemicals, he focussed his attentions on developing natural alternatives, and through his research discovered that micro-organisms could be divided into three distinct categories: harmful, beneficial, and opportunistic. EM naturally attach themselves to harmful micro-organisms, neutralizing odours and cleaning stagnant water. In most cases for cleaning water ecosystems, EM outcompete other harmful micro-organisms causing them to die out due to lack of a food source. This is why they have to be continually added.

Although Dr. Higa’s research is not new, the word EM only recently became well known around the globe. EM products are now used in households and businesses throughout Asia, South and North America, Europe and Africa, both for cleaning and as natural fertilizers. An annual international conference on EM moves around the globe, while in Asia, Thailand has become the EM information centre, with partial funding from its Japanese counterpart.

Here on Phuket, Environmental Solutions and Protection Ltd (ESP) is one company that supplies EM products and also conducts regular home and hotel visits to clean out decorative ponds and septic tanks using the solution. “EM can be used in many types of water treatment,” explained the company’s founder, Brad Kenny. “It literally eats waste. Everything from leftover foods to pond sludge and even bad smells.” In fact, a number of home and villa owners on Phuket already apply Extended EM in and around their properties and several resorts also use EM in various ways, particularly to treat their decorative ponds, waste water and prevent unpleasant smells. Phuket Villas and Homes, a leading villa rental agency, is currently in the process of applying EM throughout the company’s portfolio of managed properties.

Introducing EM to your home or business is quite straightforward. Just 10CC of EM solution is enough to produce a full litre of “Extended EM”, which you can apply in a variety of ways. The concentrate ESP uses is mixed with the source water and aerated, either by hand agitation or mechanical means. Before applying the Extended EM, let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes in a sealed container. The lid should be loosened occasionally to release pressure from the fermentation process, after that, it’s ready to be applied. One litre of EM concentrate costs around 100 baht and stretches a long way. Small amounts can be poured down the wash basin or into the toilet to reach septic tanks, even the spill-off from cleaning the house with water mixed with EM solution will flow into the ground and help remove harmful micro-organisms.

To buy EM products or schedule a cleaning visit on Phuket, call Brad Kenny on 08 1633 4279. You can also buy EM solution at the “Kachonjit Shop” in Kamala, near the Thai Military Bank, also in Rawai. Call 08 1891 4793 (Thai language) for more details.

This article is provided courtesy of Phuket Villas & Homes as part of the company’s corporate responsibility programme.

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