SIHANOUKVILLE: Speaking at an educational program on sewage and wastewater in Sihanoukville, on Thursday, Sihanoukville Mayor, Y Sokleng, said that in the past, the congestion in the city's sewer system was caused by plastic waste being thrown into open fields and sewers and wrong sewerage connection techniques that also led dirty water to flow into the sea.

He added that it is important to educate people to reduce or prevent incorrect waste disposal, therefore, the outreach education program was being held to inspire the general public to do their part in the management of sewers and integrated wastewater systems effectively and sustainably.

He continued to say that drainage and wastewater treatment systems are important to everyone’s lives and that everyone must actively participate in the proper management of these systems in order to maintain the quality of the built infrastructures for future generations.

The Sihanoukville Drainage and Sewerage Education Program, organized in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), has launched a public awareness campaign on the maintenance of water drainage systems and the importance of protecting marine resources from destruction.