Updates of Water Environment
Governance in Cambodia
Mr. VORNG Say
Deputy Director, Department of Water Quality Management
General Directorate of Environmental Protection
Ministry of Environment
30 January, 2024
The 19th Annual Meeting in Hayama, Japan1

1. Goals of water environment➢ The purpose of water environment governance in Cambodia is to regulate thewater pollution control in order to prevent and reduce the water pollution of
the public water areas so that the protection of human health and theconservation of biodiversity shall be ensured.
➢ Regulatory frameworks support water environment governance have beendeveloped and promulgated:• Cambodian constitution 1993 Article 59• Laws on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management(1996)• Sub-decree No.27 on Water Pollution Control (1999) and Sub decree
No.103 on revised Water Pollution Control (2021)• Prakas 263 on Water Quality Index• Prakas 021 on Classification of EIA for development project22. Assess the status of water environment➢ Regularly monitoring water quality at:• Public water areas: 18 stations in
10 targeted provinces• Sea water: 8 stations in 3

targeted provinces• Hot Sport: 12 stations in 3
targeted provinces• WWTP Effluent: 4 stations in 2targeted provinces• Natural purification pond: 2stations in 2 targeted provinces• Automatic water quality monitoringstation

2. Assess the status of water environment

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2. Assess the status of water environment52. Assess the status of water environment

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2. Assess the status of water environment
Results of Effluent Quality in Average of Targeted WWTP for 2023
.

TSS

BOD5

CODCr

NO3-1-N

T-N(mg/l)(mg/l)(mg/l)(mg/l)(mg/l)(mg/l)

pHT-P (mg/l)

1

7.39

5.7

5.00

17.92

46.00

12.70

15.38

1.50

27.273.10

3.00

35.45

43.00

7.30

14.99

0.02

3

7.57

050

73.84

27.31

100

13.40

15.32

1.61

4

7.20

3.55

29.11

25.69

44.25

0.21

10.64

1.22

5.5-9

-<100<60<120<20<40<6**DO.

.

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2. Assess the status of water environment
Results of Sea Water Quality in Average of Targeted Areas for 2023
.

(**.

)

pHDO
(mg/l)

TSS(mg/l)

CODOH(mg/l)

TN(mg/l)

TP(mg/l)

NO3-1-N(mg/l)

8.18

5.78

11.26

1.42

0.91

0.02

0.16

8.15

5.82

7.33

1.74

0.60

0.02

0.18

8.115.62

4.95

1.44

1.06

0.03

0.17

8.07

5.44

4.08

1.75

0.99

0.02

0.18

6.55

4.72

9.42

1.59

0.49

0.05

0.14

6.77

5.28

7.91

1.88

0.31

0.08

0.12

8.06

6.64

36.65

1.94

1.20

0.04

0.16

8.01

6.58

16.26

1.62

0.86

0.02

0.24

7-8.3>4<80<8<2

<0.09

0.06

.

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3. Identify pollution sources➢ There are some major pollution
sources cause water environmental quality degradation as
followings:• Non Point Sources: Agricultural
waste, domestic waste…etc.
• Point Sources: Illegal industrial
wastewater discharge• Climate change constraints

94. Implement measures to address issues➢ Continuing monitoring water environmental quality at public water areas➢ Strengthening implementation of existing law and regulations:• Regular monitoring and Inspecting pollution sources• If found mistake, release the administrative order letter to:✓correct small fault within a specific period,✓correct fault within a specific period but fine or stop process,✓collect and detain evidence of such offense for making statement andforward the case file to the competent agency in case of serious pollution• Investment companies/industries are required to complete legal
procedure relevant to environment (waste disposal permits, EIA…)• Investment companies/industries are required to install self monitoring
equipment
105. Evaluating outcomes and revising policies
Till now, there are still some issues not completely solved:➢ Illegal discharge of industrial wastewater into public water areas➢ Lacking of national environmental supported infrastructures (WWTP)➢ Lacking of water environmental quality monitoring supported materials➢ Limited self-studied capacity development and scientific based
researches and innovation

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5. Evaluating outcomes and revising policies
To deal with those issues and to combat theproblems,

the specific regulatory frameworks

are developed and put into force and someresearch areas are taken into account:➢ Circular Strategy on Environment has beendeveloped and put into force since late of 2023
➢ Environmental and Natural Resource Codehas been promulgated and put into force in 2024
➢ Drafting a Prakas on the conditions andprocedures

fortherecognition

ofenvironmental engineering services company

on wastewater treatment system
126. Challenges and future plans➢ Challenges➢ Insufficientoftechnicalofficials

onwaterenvironmentalmanagement➢ Lacking of technical support materials for improving water work
implementation➢ Lacking of good cooperation either relevant institutions or pollution
source owners➢ Owners of some pollution sources are not honest in the operation of
their wastewater treatment plants

136. Challenges and future plans➢ Future Plan:➢ Continuing implementation of existing law and regulatory
frameworks➢ Strengthening good cooperation with relevant institutions toward
water environmental protection and pollution control➢ Fastening the drafting of relevant Prakas for getting approval andbeing promulgated➢ Encouraging young officials for conducting scientific based

researches in water environment areas

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Case study: Initiative Water GovernanceManagement plan of Prek Tapov, Svay
Rieng province, Cambodia:➢ The key specific objectives are as followings:• Identify pollution status in Prek Tapov• Assessment on water pollution and socio-economic
impact in the areas and• Establishment of restoration management plan andprevention measures (Ex. PPP…)
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Thank for your attention!!!

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