Sanitation

Overview

The government in Cambodia aims to provide universal access to sanitation by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6. However, Cambodia is not on track to meet it’s sanitation  access target, as rural access remains a challenge. Only 61% of the rural population have access to  basic sanitation and hygiene services compared  to urban areas (93% and 83% respectively). Over 25% of rural Cambodia do not have access to sanitation services and must practise open defecation. 

The most common type of toilet in Cambodia is a pour/flush squat latrine that uses water for flushing. Toilet paper is uncommon as it is expensive and often considered unhygienic compared to using water to wash. In urban areas this can be from a piped water supply to a bidet (water pressurised hand-held hose), or using water from a bucket or storage tank  in rural areas. 

Poor or lack of sanitation and hygiene access increases the risk of water-borne and faecal-related diseases. Open defecation poses a health risk such as increasing the risk of faecal-oral diseases, mostly due to contaminated water, hands and food. Diarrhoea is the second-largest cause of infant and under-five mortality in Cambodia – one of the highest rates in the region. Bars of soap are more widely available and cost-effective in rural areas than liquid. However, hand-washing with water and no soap is common.

Current situation

Only 18% of the households in Pu Ngaol have access to a toilet. There are 20 household toilets and one public toilet in the community hall. Toilets are constructed outside homes, which are housed in a superstructure made from brick or wood with a zinc roof. Bars of soap can be purchased from local shops and pop-up market stalls. 

A squatting pan is connected to a septic tank, which is a concrete ring pit for faecal storage. These pits are made by a series of concrete rings approximately  0.8-1 m in diameter, 0.5 m high and 40-50 mm in thickness. Once a pit becomes full, another pit next to the first one can be dug so the toilet can still be used. The first pit will be left and emptied, occasionally by hand, after two to three years, which can sometimes be used as a fertiliser. The pits are unsealed, which means the contents leach into the groundwater. Toilets that are unsealed and raised above the ground can be affected by flash flooding, leading to overflowing pits.  

Cost is a challenge for toilet access which can cost between 2-2.5 million riel (approximately $500-600 USD) per toilet, approximately half a community member’s annual salary. There is also a lack of skills and materials in Pu Ngaol to construct toilets (e.g. cement, concrete rings, sand) that must come in from nearby areas, increasing costs. 

Those without access to a toilet will walk into the forest, 20-200 m from their home, for privacy early in the morning and past cleared lands for rice paddy fields to avoid contamination. Bites from mosquitoes, snakes and insects are a risk, and women in the village can feel unsafe particularly at night.

RELEVANT CASE STUDIES 

Take a look at the following case studies for more information and ideas. As you explore this area and the perspectives from the case studies, consider how the sanitation interconnects with other challenges identified by the community:

• Chanrika Keo (Program Support Officer, Engineers Without Borders Australia Cambodia Team),

• Pin Prak (Technology Development Manager, Engineers Without Borders Australia Cambodia Team) and Ratha Kong (Senior Technology Development Lead, Engineers Without Borders Australia Cambodia Team) share their experience conducting focus groups in Pu Ngaol and the importance of inclusion for sanitation access.

• Chen Saitevy (Community Member, Pu Ngaol) shares that she would like to see more toilet facilities in the community so they don’t have to use the forest.

Projects

27. Community-led toilet construction

To improve sanitation and hygiene in Pu Ngaol, where only 18% of households have access to toilets, a comprehensive approach can be adopted. What ideas have you got to encourage community members to participate in the construction of household and public toilets, possibly through a cooperative effort?

28. Sewer waste management

Implement effective waste management practices for both household and public toilets to prevent pollution and maintain cleanliness. What options for converting waste into compost or biogas are feasible?

29. Sanitation solutions

To address sanitation challenges in Cambodia, particularly in areas with seasonal variability and varying ground types, can you think of ideas to create resilient and affordable sanitation solutions tailored to the specific challenges posed by Cambodia's seasonal variability, flooding, and varying soil stability?

30. Hygiene education

Launch hygiene education programs to raise awareness about the importance of proper sanitation and handwashing. Can you think of ways to teach the community about the health benefits of using toilets and the proper disposal of waste?