Progress of Water Environment
Governance in (Lao PDR)
Presented by: Mr. Somsanouk Phommakhot

The 14th WEPA Annual Meeting
22 February 2019Tokyo1

I. Overview-Water
Resources in Lao PDR Lao PDR is located in South-East Asiawith total land area of 236,800 km2,approx. population 6.49 mill. (2015);
 90% of the country territory is located inthe Mekong Basin Water resources per capita is around
55,000 m3 per year; 35% of annual flow (or equal 270,000 mil.
m3) in Mekong flow is from tributaries inLaos; 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 aretotal 62 river basins.

2

Data of Water Quality Monitoring in Vientiane CapitalResult of WQM “BOD”• The Value of BOD in upstream of Hong Ke and Hong
Xeng (No. 3.3 and 6) is higher that that in other points.
• It is found that upstream of Hong Ke and Hong Xeng are
heavily polluted due to discharge of wastewater fromhouseholds, factories and commerce facilities.
• The value of BOD in every point doesn’t meet theNational Environmental Standard of Lao PDR.
• The value of BOD in the end of dry season in higher thanthat in the beginning of dry season, The water quality has
deteriorated as dry season goes by.

Description of BOD in Monitoring ReportLegislation of Wastewater Management
1. National Environmental Standard, 2017;
2. Water and Water Resources Management, 2017;
3. Natural Resources and Environment Sector Vision
towards 2030 and Ten-Year Strategy (2016-2025) andNatural Resources and Environment Sector Five year
Action Plan (2016-2020) 22 September 2015;
4. Industry Processing Law, 2013;
5. Environment Protection Law, 2012;
6. Environment Impact Assessment Decree; 2010 and EIA
instruction 2014;
7. Waste from Industry Processing ManagementRegulation 2012; and8. Industry Wastewater Discharge Regulation 2005.

Institutional Responsibility:
1. Project proponents have to submit the industrial proposal to
Ministry 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 Natural
Resources 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).

Networking of Water
Quality Monitoring inLao PDR
17 (+1)provinces93
Stations>30
Monitoring
Parameters

Monitoring Parameters

The Strategy and Action Plan for Wastewater Treatment-2030
Our Vision is that:“Hygienic lives ensured for the urban population by 2030, everyhouseholds 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
1. Policy and legislation:
 Lack of National Planning Policy Framework, Monitoring and Enforcement; Lack of specific Law and Regulation to control of waster pollution control and Lack of criminal laws for pollution control.

2. Institutional Framework: The absence of power leads to serious lack of compliance and major pollution issues; Lack of technical skills and inadequate resources to support monitoring andenforcement; Lack of cooperation and coordination of pollution control among the Center , Local
government and agencies concern.

3. Financial support: Lack of financial collection charges of pollutants released into the environment is still
not able to perform as no specific legislation in force; and National government’s annual budget is not sufficient.

Expectation from WEPA to address identifiedchallenges
1. Human Resources Development;
2. Technical support for water environment in Lao
PDR;
3. Pilot project/program on water environment in Lao
PDR; and4. Study exchange on water environment among WEPAcountries.

Thank you for your attention