A typical scenario (an illustrative example, not a real customer)

A Night Watching the Mae Klong, and a Morning When the House Smelled Wrong

Auntie Lamduan is in her sixties and lives in a two-storey wooden house raised on stilts in one of the subdistricts of Wat Phleng. Her son works at a factory in Ratchaburi town; her granddaughter is in primary school. The house has seen many high-water seasons, so when the news said the Mae Klong was spilling over its banks, she knew the drill: carry the food cabinet, the rice bin and the sacks of fertiliser upstairs, and wheel the motorbike to the temple grounds, where the land sits higher.

That night the water crept under the house and kept rising until it covered the wooden table where she sits to peel vegetables for the market. It was brown and cloudy and carried leaves, rubbish and the smell of mud. Several days passed before it slowly drained away. Her son took two days off to shovel out the mud, hose down the space under the house and drag the table into the sun. Everything looked fine. But a week later her granddaughter started complaining that the ground-floor bedroom smelled like wet laundry left in a bucket. Auntie Lamduan woke up congested every morning, and dark spots began to bloom on the wooden wall panels near the floor.

Her son wiped the spots with bleach. They faded for two or three days and came back. He bought air freshener; the perfume lasted half an hour and then mixed with the mustiness into something worse. This pattern repeats in riverside homes across the Mae Klong basin, because a flood leaves moisture and microorganisms inside the wood grain and in every object that sat in the water.

Where the Flooding Hit in Pak Tho and Wat Phleng: The Reported Facts

The facts in this article come from published news reports. We do not add numbers that have no source. In summary:

• Khaosod English (29 September 2026) reported that Pak Tho and Wat Phleng were among the Ratchaburi districts under warning, together with Ban Pong, Photharam, Mueang Ratchaburi, Bang Phae and Damnoen Saduak, because the Mae Klong River had overflowed its banks.
• According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) report of 2 October 2026, 3,663 households in Ratchaburi Province were affected. This is a province-level figure. No district-level figure was published for Pak Tho or Wat Phleng, so we do not state how many homes flooded in either district.
• Nationally, the DDPM reported on 2 October 2026 that flooding affected 31 provinces plus Bangkok, a total of 1,245,581 households and 3,535,206 people. The main causes were heavy to very heavy rain combined with runoff from the north.

Flood figures change every day. Residents should follow announcements from the district office, the subdistrict administrative organisation and the Ratchaburi DDPM office directly. What this article can help with is the phase after the water recedes, which is often overlooked even though it is when germs and mold multiply fastest.

Why the After-Flood Problems Differ Between the Two Districts

Wat Phleng is a small district on the Mae Klong River. Many homes are wooden houses raised on stilts, orchard houses and temple-side communities near the river and its canals. The open space beneath such a house is storage room, living room and workspace all at once. When water fills it, moisture rises into the wooden floor above, and soaked timber holds water far longer than concrete does.

Pak Tho lies in the south of the province, and the Phetkasem Road runs through it. The district mixes market-area communities, roadside shophouses, homes in housing estates and farmhouses. In concrete houses and shophouses the trouble is dampness soaked into plastered walls, trapped under floor tiles and swelling particleboard furniture. Farm households often have sheds for fertiliser, tools and animal feed, which turn into sources of odour and mold once wet.

The principle in both districts is the same: remove the mud, wash, dry, then disinfect and deodorise.

Every Kind of Germ the Mae Klong Floodwater Brings: What Pak Tho and Wat Phleng Homes Should Watch For

The water that pours into a house is not clean river water. Before it reaches the space under your floor, it has passed through rice fields, animal pens, drains, septic tanks, toilets and rubbish heaps, picking up several groups of microorganisms along the way.

1. Faecal Bacteria and Sewage

E. coli and Salmonella come from human and animal faeces. When septic tanks and toilets flood, these bacteria spread with the water and settle on floors, walls, tables, kitchenware and children's toys. If hands touch these surfaces and then touch food, the result can be diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. Toddlers who crawl and put their hands in their mouths are at particular risk.

2. Leptospirosis

Leptospira bacteria come from the urine of rats and some other animals and survive for a long time in standing water and mud. They enter the body through cuts or through skin that has soaked in water for hours. People in the farming areas of Pak Tho and Wat Phleng who wade into orchards and fields to check the damage are exposed. Key symptoms are a sudden high fever, headache and marked pain in the calf muscles. Anyone with these symptoms after wading should see a doctor promptly and mention the flood exposure. Ozone is not a treatment for disease and never replaces medical care.

3. Viruses That Spread Easily in Crowded Homes

After a flood, families often squeeze into one upstairs room or move in with relatives, which lets viruses spread. Common culprits include norovirus and rotavirus, which cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea, especially in children, as well as respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV, which are dangerous for infants and older people. Humid air and closed-up rooms make transmission easier.

4. Mold and Mold Spores in Timber and Plaster

Mold can start growing within one to two days after materials get wet, which is why public-health bodies such as WHO and CDC advise cleaning and drying a home as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours. Wooden houses in Wat Phleng are especially vulnerable because the timber absorbs water. In Pak Tho's concrete homes, mold tends to appear behind wardrobes, under mattresses, around door and window frames and beneath wallpaper. Airborne spores trigger allergies, sneezing, blocked noses and itchy eyes, and can set off asthma attacks.

5. Musty Damp and Sewage Odours

A musty smell is not just a nuisance. It is a sign that microbial decay is still going on inside the house. The rotten-mud smell, the drain smell and the stale mold smell all come from volatile compounds released by microorganisms. Masking them with fragrance leaves the source in place, so the smell always returns.

Who Is Most at Risk

Older people, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or lung disease, people with allergies or asthma and anyone with weakened immunity should stay away from the first round of cleanup and return only after the house has been dried and disinfected. Anyone with a fever, diarrhoea that will not stop, difficulty breathing or calf pain after wading should go to a hospital or the local health-promoting hospital right away.

What Pak Tho and Wat Phleng Residents Face Once the Water Drops

Health. Allergies, lingering coughs, diarrhoea and rashes that keep coming back after the family returns are often signs that the house is not yet clean enough, even when it looks tidy to the naked eye.

Money. Farming families already hit by crop losses then have to pay for new furniture, new mattresses and repeated wall repairs. If mold spreads until wall panels must be torn out or repainted several times, the costs climb further.

Time. Sons and daughters who work in other districts or in Bangkok can take only a few days off. Trial-and-error cleaning means spending many more weekends before the house is usable again.

Business. Shops along the Phetkasem Road in Pak Tho, noodle stalls, grocery stores and market vendors need to reopen fast. A customer who walks in and smells damp will not want to sit down to eat or buy anything.

Why the Usual Fixes Fall Short in Flooded Ratchaburi Homes

• Bleach only treats the surface. Bleach does kill germs on smooth surfaces, but it does not reach the pores of timber, tile grout or the gaps behind walls. Mold rooted deep in the material grows back, and bleach fumes irritate the airways. Never mix bleach with toilet cleaners or ammonia.
• Fans alone. A fan dries the outer surface, but on days when rain keeps falling and the air is humid, moisture inside wood and walls drops very slowly. A fan also blows mold spores all over the house.
• Air fresheners and incense. These cover the smell; they do not remove the cause. When the fragrance fades, the mustiness comes back.
• Painting over mold. Fresh paint hides the stain for a few weeks, but mold underneath pushes the paint into bubbles and peels, so you pay to do the job again.
• Pressure-washing, then shutting the house. This adds moisture and then traps it inside, effectively turning the home into a mold incubator.

What all of these miss is a step that reaches both the air and every surface in a room at the same time. That is where ozone disinfection helps, once the home has been washed and dried.

How WHD Ozone Disinfection Works for Flooded Homes in Pak Tho and Wat Phleng

The residential and building ozone disinfection service from World Health Disinfection (WHD) uses ozone gas (O3), a form of oxygen with one extra atom and strong oxidising power. When ozone meets a microorganism, it breaks down the cell walls of bacteria, the outer envelopes of viruses and the cells of mold, and it splits odour molecules. It then reverts to ordinary oxygen (O2), so it leaves no chemical residue on furniture, mattresses or belongings.

According to the test results the company has had certified, by Thailand's Department of Medical Sciences and Intertek (UK), WHD's ozone system eliminates viruses, bacteria and mold at up to 99.99%.

The Process, Step by Step

1. Assessment by phone or LINE. Send photos of the rooms, the size of the house and the spots with odour or mold. WHD is based in Bang Khae, Bangkok, and has no branch in Ratchaburi. Travel to Pak Tho or Wat Phleng, dates and costs are confirmed by phone at 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268. Same-day arrival is not promised.
2. Preparing the space. All people, pets and plants leave the rooms to be treated. Doors and windows are closed, and cupboards and drawers are opened so the gas can reach inside.
3. Filling the room with ozone. The team sets up the generator and brings the room to a concentration suited to its size.
4. Contact time. Ozone works on germs in the air, on surfaces and in corners. A typical cycle is about 30 minutes per zone, depending on room size and condition.
5. Rest and ventilation. The room is left until the ozone reverts to oxygen and is then aired out. You re-enter only when the team says so.

Key safety rule: ozone treatment is carried out only in an empty, closed space. No people, pets or plants may be in the room during treatment, and you go back in only after the rest and ventilation period. Ozone comes after mud removal, washing and drying. It does not replace cleaning, repairs or medical treatment.

10 Reasons Pak Tho and Wat Phleng Homes Should Consider Ozone After the Water Recedes

1. It reaches stilt-house nooks and timber gaps. Ozone gas spreads into every corner, including plank joints, the gap behind a cabinet and the space under a bed that a cloth cannot reach.
2. It tackles several germ groups in one cycle. Bacteria, viruses and mold, at up to 99.99% according to the company's certified tests.
3. It removes odour at the source. Mud, drain and damp smells fade because the odour molecules themselves are broken down, not covered up.
4. No chemical residue. Ozone reverts to oxygen, which makes it suitable for children's bedrooms and rooms used by older relatives.
5. It refreshes salvageable bedding and fabrics after they have been washed and sun-dried, reducing the stale smell trapped in the fibres.
6. It suits Mae Klong timber houses. Wood that has been soaked tends to suffer recurring smells and mold; treatment after the wood has dried helps lower the chance of regrowth.
7. It helps shops reopen with confidence. Roadside shops on the Phetkasem Road and market stalls can welcome customers without a lingering damp smell. See the service details.
8. It is quick. A cycle takes about 30 minutes per zone, so you can plan room by room.
9. It is backed by testing. Certified by the Department of Medical Sciences and Intertek, as stated by the company.
10. It can save money on repeat repairs. It reduces the risk of repainting or replacing furniture twice, and jobs of 15,000 baht or more come with a free medical-grade disinfectant spray. Ask about the promotion.

Before and After Ozone: How a Post-Flood Home Changes

Note: results depend on removing mud, washing and drying before treatment. If a source of moisture remains, such as a leaking roof or water rising through the floor, fix that first.

Example Case: A Roadside Noodle Shop in Pak Tho

Example case (a typical illustrative scenario, not a real customer review)

Somsak runs a noodle shop in a single-unit shophouse on a road in Pak Tho District. The ground floor is the shop; the family lives upstairs. When warnings about the Mae Klong overflowing coincided with days of heavy rain, water from the drains and the surrounding low ground seeped into the shop at ankle height for several days. The refrigerator, metal tables and plastic chairs could be washed, but the wooden cabinet under the counter, the curtain at the front and the old grout lines in the tiled floor held on to the smell.

After the water receded, Somsak and his wife shovelled out the mud, threw away the swollen cabinet, scrubbed the floor with cleaner and left the roller door open for three days. Yet several regulars who came back still remarked that the shop smelled of drains. He contacted the WHD team on LINE and sent photos of the shop and the upstairs rooms for assessment. They agreed on the travel date, scope and price, and set a day when the shop would be closed.

On the day, the family stayed with relatives during treatment. The team divided the building into zones for the shop front, the kitchen and the upstairs bedroom, treated them one at a time, then rested and ventilated each room before letting anyone back in. The shop reopened the next day. The drain smell and mustiness had dropped so much that customers said the place felt fresher. Somsak still fixed a leaking gutter afterwards: ozone handles germs and odour, but long-term damp prevention is building maintenance.

Pak Tho and Wat Phleng Flood Recovery Checklist: Before and After Ozone

Before Going Back In

• Wait until authorities say it is safe. Check the structure, especially stilts, stairs and floors that may have rotted or sagged.
• Switch off power at the breaker before entering. If sockets or wiring were submerged, have an electrician inspect them before use.
• Wear boots, rubber gloves and a mask, and cover any wounds to reduce leptospirosis risk.
• Watch for snakes and venomous creatures that sheltered in the house, under the floor or in woodpiles.

During Cleanup

• Remove all mud, including under the house, from storerooms and from farm-tool sheds.
• Sort what must be thrown away: mattresses soaked for long periods, swollen particleboard, food and medicines that touched floodwater. Photograph everything as evidence for assistance claims.
• Wash surfaces with clean water and detergent, then wipe with a disinfectant used as the label directs. Never mix different chemicals.
• Open the house to let air through, sun-dry belongings and use a dehumidifier if you have one, until wood and walls are genuinely dry.
• Wash buckets and water jars before reuse.

On Ozone Day

• Everyone, including pets and plants, leaves the area; rooms are sealed.
• Open cupboards and drawers and lay out dried mattresses and pillows so the gas can reach them.
• Wait for the full rest and ventilation period announced by the team before going back in.

After Ozone

• Air the house daily and check former mold spots. If new dampness appears, find the cause.
• Watch your family's health. Fever, calf pain, diarrhoea or breathing trouble means seeing a doctor straight away.
• Keep local agency contacts handy, as heavy rain remains possible in early October.

FAQ: Ozone Disinfection After the Flood in Pak Tho and Wat Phleng, Ratchaburi

Q: Does WHD have a branch in Ratchaburi?
A: No. WHD is based in Bang Khae, Bangkok. You can contact the team to plan service in Pak Tho, Wat Phleng or nearby areas, with travel and dates confirmed by phone at 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Q: The water has not fully drained yet. Can I book now?
A: You can consult and plan ahead, but treatment should happen after the water is gone and the house has been de-mudded, washed and dried. Treating while water or mud remains is poor value because the source is still there.

Q: How long do we need to stay out?
A: A typical cycle is about 30 minutes per zone plus rest and ventilation time. The total depends on the size of the house and the number of rooms, and the team will tell you when it is safe to return.

Q: Can an old wooden house be treated?
A: Yes, once the timber is properly dry. Check that wood soaked for a long time is still structurally sound; badly rotted or swollen timber should be repaired or replaced first.

Q: If the house is treated, do we still need a doctor?
A: Yes. Ozone disinfects spaces; it does not treat illness. Anyone with fever, calf pain after wading, diarrhoea or an infected wound must see a doctor.

Q: Can you treat shops or farm storerooms?
A: The service covers homes, condos, shops, offices, factories, schools and other buildings. Send photos and dimensions for an assessment first.

Q: Is there a promotion?
A: Ozone jobs of 15,000 baht or more receive a free medical-grade disinfectant spray. Ask the team for current details.

Plan Ozone Disinfection for Your Flooded Home in Pak Tho or Wat Phleng

Send photos, room sizes and the spots with odour or mold to the WHD team for an assessment, then book a date once the house is dry.

See the Ozone Disinfection Service

Call 065-556-6294 · LINE @whd268 · worldhealthdisinfection@gmail.com

Related Services

• Ozone cleaning service
• Building disinfection service
• Certificates and test reports

References

• Khaosod English (29 Sep 2026): districts under warning in Ratchaburi
• Bangkokbiznews: DDPM flood situation report
• Thai PBS: flood situation coverage
• CDC: Floods and cleanup
• WHO fact sheets