Water for All, “Clean Water for the Poor”, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh, a Capital and the heart of the Kingdom of Cambodia, has played an important role as the center of politics, economics, commerce, cultural, heritage and diplomacy of the country. Its location lies on the confluence of three rivers: the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers which are the sources of fresh water for its citizen. This makes Phnom Penh Capital a unique city for clean water that was awarded from ADB in Manila, Philippine in 2004 for “Clean Water Supply, Water for All” and Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority Wins Stockholm Industry Water Award 2010.
In the late 1960s, residents of Phnom Penh had an uninterrupted 24-hour water supply of reasonable quality water. Unfortunately, during the four-year rule of the Khmer Rouge, from 1975 to 1979, took all of Cambodia’s development sectors including urban water management and people were forced to evacuate from Phnom Penh to work in agriculture in rural areas. All water infrastructures in the city were neglected and water supply was limited to a small group of leaders.
After 1979, the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) restarted operations at 45% of its initial capacity. The PPWSA as an institution was dysfunctional and staff were under-qualified, underpaid, unmotivated, and lacked efficiency that led to very poor service to its customer. It went from being an almost bankrupt, corruption, and inefficiency institue to one that is highly considered a model for good governance and high quality service in Phnom Penh.
Recently, Phnom Penh Capital has four Water Treatment Plants to provide uninterrupted clean water service to the citizen in 24 hours per day which have capacity to produce 136,020,000 m3 of water/per year and 430,000 m3 of water per day equal to 90% of Phnom Penh territory to serve 250,070 clients.. It has total water supply networks covering 2156 km with the average pressure of water between 10-25 meters.
PPWSA has consistently increased its profits since 1993 while also paying higher income taxes to the Cambodian Government and providing subsidies for poor households.
After 1979, the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) restarted operations at 45% of its initial capacity. The PPWSA as an institution was dysfunctional and staff were under-qualified, underpaid, unmotivated, and lacked efficiency that led to very poor service to its customer. It went from being an almost bankrupt, corruption, and inefficiency institue to one that is highly considered a model for good governance and high quality service in Phnom Penh.
Recently, Phnom Penh Capital has four Water Treatment Plants to provide uninterrupted clean water service to the citizen in 24 hours per day which have capacity to produce 136,020,000 m3 of water/per year and 430,000 m3 of water per day equal to 90% of Phnom Penh territory to serve 250,070 clients.. It has total water supply networks covering 2156 km with the average pressure of water between 10-25 meters.
PPWSA has consistently increased its profits since 1993 while also paying higher income taxes to the Cambodian Government and providing subsidies for poor households.
Water Treatment Plants
Water Supply Facilities
WATER SUPPLY FOR POOR
To take part in Poverty reduction with the Royal Government of Cambodia, PPWSA has put big effort in serving the poor within city center and suburban areas of Phnom Penh with clean water under the policy "Clean Water for the Poor" since 1999.
In this regard, PPWSA has set up 3 categories of installment payment: 10 months, 15 months and 20 months loan which can be chosen based on their financial affordability and PPWSA also offer 20% discount of connection fees for the poor who live in suburban communities.
In addition, PPWSA has applied subsidy policy for the poorest since May, 2005: 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% of the total connections fee based on the real poverty. As the result, in 2008, 2,078 families living in the poor communities were supplied clean water, where 75 families were subsidized 30%, 340 families 50%, 885 families 70% and 668 families 100%.
In this regard, PPWSA has set up 3 categories of installment payment: 10 months, 15 months and 20 months loan which can be chosen based on their financial affordability and PPWSA also offer 20% discount of connection fees for the poor who live in suburban communities.
In addition, PPWSA has applied subsidy policy for the poorest since May, 2005: 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% of the total connections fee based on the real poverty. As the result, in 2008, 2,078 families living in the poor communities were supplied clean water, where 75 families were subsidized 30%, 340 families 50%, 885 families 70% and 668 families 100%.
