Function of the Klongs
Bangkok was often referred to as the "Venice of the East," because of the many klongs that served as streets. Today most of these klongs have been filled in to build streets. The current joke about Bangkok is that it still resembles Venice when it floods because all the streets are underwater.
Klongs on the western side of the river in Thonburi still have the same
function as when the city was laid out 200 years ago. The banks of the klong
are lined with low wooden homes on stilts, interspersed with small temples,
called wats. 
Most of the homes along the klongs have steps leading to the water for bathing, washing and access to boats for transportation. The klongs provide food and facilities for bathing, transportation, drainage, drinking water, recreation, protection against floods and sewage and waste disposal. In short, the entire urban system is bound by water.
However, on the eastern side of the river, most of the klongs have been filled in to provide space for roads or are replaced by huge drain pipes that take run-off rain. Flooding is common, as the excess water during monsoon season has no place to go.
The klongs used to be cleansed by the tidal movements as they were all connected to the Chao Phyra River. However, now klong water has become unsafe to drink or cook with, and it's fish are unsafe to eat. This degradation of the environment marks the end of a way of life for many people.
History
Rama III was responsible for construction of many of the canals. He wanted to increase Bangkok's facilities as a port, so he build more canals and had the rivers dredged and widened to improve inland shipping
One problem of these canals was the diseases that they carried. In 1819
and 1849 there were epidemics of cholera from India. When the government
learned that the water was responsible for the transmission of the disease,
they brought in a supply of water from Petchaburi (50 miles away). In 1914,
a waterworks was constructed and the disease was brought under control
King Mongkut's (Rama IV) reign marked an end in the waterborne character of the city. Before Mongkut, all transportation had been done by water. Rama IV recognized that wheeled vehicles were essential to commercial expansion. As a result, he had the elephant trail converted into a road for wheeled traffic, naming it the New Road, as it is still called today. He built many roads within the city, although only in the center and near markets. During the 1860's there was not a single carriage in the city. However, by 1908, more trade was done on land than on water.
King Chulalongkorn, who reigned from 1868-1910, was also responsible for this drastic change in the city's appearance. He added many new roads and tree-lined avenues, and built several beautiful marble bridges across klongs. At this point, traffic moved to the streets and houses began to line the streets instead of klongs, ultimately developing into the city as it is known today.
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