Updates of Water Environment
Governance in Lao PDR
Presented by: Mr. Somsanouk Phommakhot

The 15th WEPA Annual Meeting
7 February 2020Bangkok

Overview-Water Resources in Lao PDR Lao PDR is located in South-East Asiawith total land area of 236,800 km2,Population: 6,910,000 Persons (NationalStatistic 2017);
 90% of the country territory is located inthe Mekong Basin 35% of annual flow (or equal 270,000 mil.
m3) in Mekong flow is from tributaries inLaos; Water resources per capita is around
55,000 m3 per year; The monthly rivers flow by the pattern ofrainfall is around 80% (flood season)
during the rainy season and 20% (droughtseason) in the dry season.

Lao PDR has abundance ofwater resources which there are total 62
river basins.
2Facts and statistics of domestic wastewater management
DEWAT in Lao PDR 2009-2017.

No Year
1 20092 20103 20104 20115 20116 20117 20128 20139 201410 2014
11 2014
12 2014
13 2015
14 2015
15 2015
16 2015
17 2015
18 2015
19 201620 2016
21 2017

lacation
Vientiane Capital
Vientiane Capital
Vientiane Capital
Louanphabang Province
Khammoan Provive
Khammoan provive
Vientiane Capital
Vientiane ProvinceAttapeu province
Attapeu province
Vientiane procinceChampasak ProvinceChampasak Province
Vientiane Capital
Vientiane Capital
Houaphan province
Louanphabang Province
Vientiane Capital
Xekong Province
Bokeo Province
Louanphabang province

Total

Treatment capacity (m³/day)
1011.271570
30
2631414160
15
8
6.4
1,5
14
10
10.2
35
15User
125
146
116
208
700
300
455
66
163
235
1600
300
150
80
50
161
500
50 bed220-464.8 m3/d
Road show for DEWATS –VIRACHITH DOUANGCHANH

Comparison of BOD analyzed by DONRE and JICA in MP
29.2

30

27.2

26.2

25DONRE2015.12

21.7

JICA2009.6

20
BOD (Mg/L)

JICA2009.11

15

JICA2009.12

12.3

JICA2010.2

1050

5.2

14.1

57.1

4.5

10.3

3

12.2
11.6

3.3
2 Hong Ke (Lower)

6
2.12.22.12.93 Hong Xeng

4 Hong Ke (Upper)

Sampling Point

8Mak Hiao River

Black water treatment and sludge management

Site area
2haTreatment pond 8 ponds of 20m ×capacity
40m × 3m

Facts and statistics of Industrial wastewater management• Current situation industry wastewater and technologies• Many factories in Lao PDR their industrial waste water
direct discharged in to the pond , however, such pond does
not to have sheeting to prevent infiltration of untreatedwater to the ground;• The small factories in Lao PDR have ponds for theirindustrial effluent disposal;• The larger scale of industries their have waste water
treatment plant( Anaerobic+ Aerobic) such as Beer Lao company, Cocacolacompany , mining sector and other industries.

For example picture in the next

Ponds in many factories of Vientiane Capital Paint factory

Lao’s Metal Resources Co,.LTD

Waste Water Treatment Plant in Beer Lao CompanyLegislative framework for water environmental governanceYear

Laws/Legislation for Wastewater Management
Law/ Regulations

2017

Water and Water Resources law

2013

Industry Processing Law

2012

Environment Protection Law,

2017

Degree on National Environmental Standard

2014

Environment Impact Assessment Decree; 2010and EIA instruction 2014;

2012

Waste from Industry Processing Management Regulation

2005

Industry Wastewater Discharge Regulation
Policy2019

National Strategy on Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene 20192030 No 0947/MoH” was approved and issued.

2015

Natural Resources and Environment Sector Vision towards 2030 and TenYear Strategy (2016-2025) and Natural Resources and Environment Sector
Five year Action Plan (2016-2020) 22 September 2015;

Water quality monitoring framework
Institutional Responsibility:
1. Project proponents have to submit the industrial proposal toMinistry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) for issue theindustries operating permit. MOIC is monitoring for
wastewater management and treatment process before
discharge to nature environment) monitoring every month;
2. Project proponents have to submit Environmental
Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) to theEnvironment Impact Assessment (EIA) Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment (MONRE) monitoring twotime per years; and3. There are three levels of government in Lao PDR (Ministryat National, Department at Province and Office at Districtlevels).

Future targets/plans, issues
The Strategy and Action Plan for Wastewater Treatment-2030
Our Vision is that:“Hygienic lives ensured for the urban population by 2030, every
households can able to connect to wastewater treatment services
to be more effective in health, promoted economic growth, social
security and sustainable environment”

Our Goal is:“Supporting increased access to sustainable wastewater facilities
and services in urban areas for every districts level withappropriated technology that energy saving, less in cost(construction, operation and maintenance), supported local
materials and labors”

Challenges of water environment governance• Lack of monitoring and maintenance ofwastewater facilities(latrines, septic tanks)• No urban sewerage collection system,
centralized wastewater systems including
Vientiane capital.
• The water quality of urban/rivers may further
deteriorate in the near future due to inflows ofincreasing volumes of untreated wastewater fromurban growth, agriculture activities and indusialdevelopment.Challenges
Agency Institutional arrangement & establishment – need toCoordination strengthen cooperation and coordination among theCenter , Local government and agencies concern;
Financial
Sustainability

Legislation
Human ResourceDevelopment

Data & Info

Limited financial support & sustainable mechanism
Seeing the third parties to support and invest in low
cost wastewater treatment technologies
Legislations, guidelines need to enforce andimplement
Limited capacity of concerned staff of water
environment management, public awareness Even both
central and local government, thus need to strengthen
capacity building
Lack of efficient and accurate water quality data& information sharing
14

Expectation from WEPA to address identified
challenges
1. Human Resources Development capacity buildingfor technical officers in government who will be key
personal on water environment governance;
2. Financial / technologies support for water
environment in Lao PDR;
3. Conduct the pilot project/program on wastewater
treatment plant in Lao PDR; and4. Develop technical guidelines/ legislation onwastewater management.

Thank you for your attention