PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian Water Suppliers Association joined Aide et Action (ADA) in signing an agreement to expand the water pipeline network to the coastal provinces of Kampot, Kampong Chhnang and Sihanoukville on May 23. More than $320,000 USD has been invested in the project which will bring clean water to Kep and Koh Kong as well.

The project to expand the pipeline network will be implemented in two target provinces: Kampot and Sihanoukville. In Kampot, the clean water project will mainly benefit the Kampong Trach district; while in Sihanoukville, the network will extend to the Obak Rotes and Chamkar Luong communes, which will benefit more than 6,000 people.

Vorn Samphas, Country Director of ADA Action, confirmed to reporters that expanding the water network will greatly benefit people in the coastal provinces who, by the end of this year, can expect to have access to clean water.

"Clean water plays a vital role in the development of health, education, livelihoods and the well-being of the nation. This joint venture will allow operators in difficult-to-reach, low-income areas to raise capital to bring clean water there. We, together with the Clean Water Association, are working to bring clean water services to remote, impoverished areas." he said.

Lim Minh, Executive Director of the Cambodian Water Suppliers Association, hopes that the project will meaningfully improve clean water access. By the end of 2022, he said, just over 30% of the country's population had access to clean, treated water.

Minh stated that the Royal Government has set a goal for 100% of the urban population to have access to clean water by 2025 and for all Cambodians nationwide to have the same by 2030.

He said that in order to achieve these goals, the Royal Government has encouraged the private investment in the public sector to provide clean water. There are currently 365 water supply stations in the country which rural populations depend on for clean water.