This research aims to study problems of surface water quality managements in Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand and to determine optimal needs of communities in surface water quality management which can be implemented practically. Primary data were collected from 400 household samples in Amphawa District using questionnaires. Interviewed sessions with the communities were also held to gather more detailed informations. The data from questionnaires and from interview were then analyzed to elucidate the problems and the needs of communities.

The results showed that (1) the overviewed problem about the surface water quality management in Amphawa district was in the medium level with the average score of 3.33. In details, all sub-problems were also in the medium level. The average scores for each sub-problem were 2.98 for the problem of water consumption, 3.42 for the problem of the community, 3.20 for the problem of water consumption management, 3.56 for the problem of water consumption demand, and 3.51 for another problems that affected on water consumption   (2) the overviewed needs of communities in the practical surface water quality management for water consumption were in the medium level with the average score of 4.02. In details, all sub-issues of needs were also in the medium level except the issue about need of communities to create knowledge was in the high level. The average scores for each sub-issue of communities’ needs were 3.94 for the need of solving problems about water consumption, 4.23 for the need of water quality management, 3.97 for the need of communities to create knowledge, 3.56 for the need of public participation, and 3.91 for the need of water resource management. It could be concluded from the interviewed sessions that the communities desire to have public participation to solve the problems of water and water quality management.

Keywords: Water Quality Management,  Water Resources Consumption, Samut Songkhram Province