Updates of Water Environment
Governance in Lao PDR
Sengkeo TASAKETH
Deputy Director of Division
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Inspection
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

30 January, 2024
The 19th Annual Meeting in Hayama, Japan1

1. Goals of water environment
National Water Strategy 2030
• Vision: “Managing and utilizing water and water resources
based on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
principles to ensure the availability and health of water forsustainable development and the reduction of disaster risk”• National Environment Standards 2017 ( Replaced from National
Environment Standards 2009)• National environmental standards have been adopted based on theEnvironmental Protection Law, the Decree on National
Environment Standard No. 81/GL, dated 21 Feb. 2017
• The main national water standards in the agreement for water
quality are indicated in Article 10 Surface Water Quality
Standards, which applied for surface water quality
classification (category 1-5)
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1. Goals of water environment
Category of Surface Water Quality31. Goals of water environment

Note:
Category 1 is a natural source of good quality water, does not go through any production process or chemical additives and is freefrom wastewater from all kinds of activities.
Category 2 is a source of water that is used and consumed but must be disinfected. This type of water is suitable for theconservation of aquatic animals, fisheries, water sports and so on.
Category 3 It is a source of water for consumption and must be sterilized, this type of water is suitable for agriculture, animalhusbandry and so on.
Category 4 A source of water that is used and consumed but must be sterilized, this type of water is suitable for industry, as aplace to treat wastewater from the city or community and so on.
Category 5 is a source of water that is used for transportation and be reservoir for treatment of wastewater from cities orcommunities, and so on.
n: Is a natural water sourcen’: is a natural water source but does not change ±3°C in temperature42. Assess the status of water environment
Provincials level is Local Government

Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE)
Implementation for water quality monitoring plan follows Initial
Environment Examination (IEE) collaboration with the investment projectsfor water quality monitoring
Reporting the result toMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment (MORE) Department of water resources compiling of water quality and assessing the status ofthe water environment; Department of Environment reviewing existing policies , strategy, law, regulation on
management work and environment protection including work on environment
protection and issues Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate permits; Natural Resources And Environment Research Institute provides service for analysisof water quality following national standard of Lao PDR; Dept of Natural Resources and Environment Inspection to inspection of theimplementation of environmental duty (tariff) of investment project and businessaccording to the environmental management and monitoring plan3. Identify pollution sources
In general the water quality of rivers in Lao PDR is still ingood quality.
However, there are also several incident that cause the adverse
effect to water quality such as the effect of water discharged byvarious sources, including industrial activities, mining activities,
leak chemicals from the construction dam, chemicals used inagriculture all contribute to water pollution;
Lack of data and information of water quality compiling
nationwide systems and continues WQ monitoring program.
The government is taking steps to regulate and control waterpollution through legislation and enforcement, as well as
promoting sustainable practices.
64. Implement measures to address issues
To address issues of water pollution implement following measures
were implemented/strengthened at local and central government
Environment protection law (2012)
The basic environmental law of Lao PDR is the Environmental Protection
Law, which was promulgated in 1999 and revised in 2012. It is the main
legal document supporting environmental protection
Article 35 Pollution Control Measures (revised)
Article 41 Environmental Certification (new)Article 42 Permission on Pollution Emission (new)Article 43 Environmental Compliance Certificate and Pollution Permit(new)Water and water resources law (2017)
Lao PDR’s National Assembly approved the updated water and water
resources law in 2017, which aims to improve the sustainability of
Lao’s water resources.
Article 30 Water Quality Standards and Wastewater DischargeStandards(revised)
Article 31Wastewater discharge Permission (New)7

4. Implement measures to address issues
Environment Impact Assessment Decree (2022)• The Lao government issued Environment Impact Assessment Decree
No. 389/GL on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)and Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of Investment Projects(2023) Implementation and extending the provisions prescribed underArticle 21 of the Law on Environmental Protection
Effluent Standards (National Environmental Standard 2017)• 10 Surface Water Quality Standards, which establishes surface waterquality classifications (category 1-5)
• Article 14 describes water pollution control standards that indicate thehighest concentration level allowed in treated wastewater and dilution
discharged to public canals or natural water resources.
The 2019 National Policy on Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
provides the principles, guidelines, and roles for all actors. It sets out 16
policy statements and clarifies institutional roles and responsibilities.
85. Evaluating outcomes and revising policies
Evaluating outcomes : Lacking of water quality monitoring quality monitoring
systems and capacity technical knowledge to enforcementof national environmental standard; Illegal discharge wastewater from various sectors activities
into public water body(New) MoNRE created an agreement under the water andwater resources law as The Ministerial Agreement on waterused No. 6118/MoNRE
The Ministerial Agreement on water quality management andwastewater discharge No. 1430/MoNRE

96. Challenges and future plans
1)

2)

3)
4)
5)

Coordination among various Lao government ministries and departments
needs to be improved in order to more effectively address water
environment issues and limited data has been collected regarding waterenvironment;
Some water environment policies, regulations and action plans have notbeen implemented due to lack of personnel and capacity as Presidential
Decree on registration and service fee No. 2 (dated 17 June 2021) for
wastewater discharges and fees for the restoration of water resourcesfrom investment projects and other activities.
Enforcement of national environmental standard for industry effluent andwastewater discharge from the toilet (BOD5 30mg¥L) is difficult byanaerobic treatment only such as septic tank;
Lack of technical knowledge, training and understanding of water
environment concepts among Lao government staff members, especiallythose in MONRE / DNEI;
Lack of public understanding and appreciation for water environment
issues, especially at the community level.
106. Challenges and future plans
Future plan

1.

Formulate/update and implement legislations – such as NES, related
regulations, technical guidelines;

2.

Wastewater discharges and fees for the restoration of water resourcesfrom investment projects and other activities according to Presidential
Decree on registration and service fee No. 2 (dated 17 June 2021) ;3.

Revising National Environmental Standards (NES) add some parametersas BOD5 in the surface water quality standards, and adapt volume ofBOD5 discharge from toilet.

4.

Conduct Water quality monitoring program and continue to develop
water resources/water quality database systems;

5.

Capacity building and awareness raising with gender mainstreaming andparticipation of all stakeholders and; Regional and international
cooperation.
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Thank for your attention

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