Water

Quality and accessibility are challenges for Pu Ngaol’s water supply including lack of clean water for home consumption and agriculture, contamination risks, and available storage. The Ou Te River is crucial for livelihoods however, seasonal variations and climate impacts pose risk to the community. What solutions can you propose to improve the availability and climate resilience of water supplies in Pu Ngaol?

Overview

he government in Cambodia aims to provide universal access to safe and clean water by 2025, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6. However, there is a disparity between urban and rural access. Over 99% of the urban population have access to an improved water source, while one in five people in rural areas access water from an unimproved or surface water source.

The climate emergency has brought significant risks to Cambodia including, heatwaves, drought, floods and storm surges. Mining can also pose risks to Cambodia’s water resources, with reports of villages nearby mining sites drinking contaminated water leading to fatalities and hospitalisations. Flooding also impacts Cambodia’s efforts to tackling explosive remnants of war. Uprooting unexploded ordinances and cluster munitions mines are being moved through the soil, re-contaminating previously cleared areas.

The Ou Te River that runs through Pu Ngaol is used for bathing, washing clothes, and drinking water (after boiling). In the dry season (November to March) when the water level drops, the river’s flow is slower, and the water is clearer with lower turbidity. The river has high turbidity in the wet season (May to October) stirred up from fast flowing water and runs approximately 3 m deep and 50 m wide. During the wet season floods water level can rise 0.5-2 m in 24 hours causing flooding to homes along the stream. On 13 August 2022, Pu Ngaol village experienced a flash flood on 13 August 2022, raising the river by 1 m, which caused difficulty in travelling, damaged crops and tools, and killed livestock.

Bottled water (20 litre containers) can be purchased from most local stores. A ‘swap system’ is often in place where community members can purchase bottles up front (16,000-20,000 riel, about $4-5 USD) and swap for a full bottle of clean water at a lower price (2,500 riel, about $0.60 USD). Private small-scale drinking water processing plants are fairly common across rural Cambodia.

Current situation

There are eight public boreholes equipped with hand pumps around Pu Ngaol. The static groundwater level is approximately 5 m below ground. Boreholes are approximately 30-40 m deep that can pump up to a maximum 4 m3 per hour. They are rarely used for drinking as they contain mud, hard water (high calcium carbonate content) and iron. The water is only suitable for small-scale agriculture (like vegetable gardens and livestock) and washing. The water has a strong smell and bitter taste, and is only used when community members run out of water in their storage containers at home.

Rainwater is collected during the wet season via makeshift channels off corrugated iron roofs into large plastic 200-300 litre drums or similarly large rounded traditional cement storage jars that can hold 720 litres. Most people have two or three storage jars. One jar can last between three days to a week for household use (cooking, drinking and washing). Cement storage jars cost 150,000 riel (about $40 USD) to buy and deliver to a house. These have no covers, leading to contamination from dirt, insects and potential bacteria. Rainwater is often used for cooking and some other low-water-intensive uses like washing dishes and dirty hands. The rainwater is boiled before being used for drinking.

Women are often responsible for collecting water and will take containers, via walking or motorbike, to groundwater wells and the river. Households can spend at least four hours, every three days, collecting water for their water storage at home. River water can also be purchased via a big delivery tank on a truck, which pumps river water into the tank and is driven around to sell water direct to people’s homes, pumping water out into large plastic blue storage drums.

Rice, fruit and vegetable farming is significantly relied upon for livelihood and income in Pu Ngaol village. These rely on rainwater in the wet season, which makes them extremely vulnerable to climate effects (e.g. longer dry seasons, shifting of beginning and end of seasons, changes in rainfall, leading to changes in crop productivity, etc). Community members who live near the river can use the river water freely for agricultural purposes especially during the wet season, while others supplement with water from the groundwater pumps. Livestock in the village are allowed to roam free during the dry season. Farmers will lead large livestock to the river during the dry season, which can contaminate the river with faecal matter. Shallow wells and reservoirs are also dug and lined with PVC to provide water to smaller livestock such as chickens and ducks.

Traditional cement rainwater storage jar

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 water interconnects with other challenges identified by the community:

Amnus Nhoeb (Community Member, Pu Ngaol), Chanrika Keo (Program Support Officer, Engineers Without Borders Australia Cambodia Team) and Nheang Heng (Community Member, Pu Ngaol) highlight that the limited water availability impacts crop yields.
Mreal Sao (Community Member, Pu Ngaol) and Chen Saitevy (Community Member, Pu Ngaol) explain how poor water quality causes illnesses in Pu Ngaol, particularly during the dry season.
Nhean Nhroeun (Deputy Village Chief, Pu Ngaol) shares that he has a private well for daily household use but still relies on rainwater for his rice fields.
Ratha Kong (Senior Technology Development Lead, Engineers Without Borders Australia Cambodia Team) shares his experience of solar powered rainwater harvesting.

Rainwater tank behind the Primary School

Projects

23. Water collection points management

River access is vital for the people of Pu Ngaol, supporting their livelihoods. Nevertheless, the fluctuating and sometimes perilous water levels in the river can be unpredictable. Consider the dynamics of community members gathering water for domestic use near the Pu Ngaol bridge. What solutions can you propose, that take into account the river's varying heights throughout the year, ensure child safety, and provide accessible access along the riverbank?

24. Water treatment system

To improve the usability of the local water source in Pu Ngaol, a comprehensive water treatment system could be implemented. Given the issues of mud, hard water, iron, strong odour, and bitter taste, can you think of some water treatment system that addresses these challenges while making the water suitable for small-scale agriculture and washing?

25. Water sources for agriculture

To address the issue of potential river contamination and provide a sustainable water supply for agricultural and livestock needs in Pu Ngaol, a comprehensive water management plan can be developed. Can you work towards sustainable water management that ensures safe and reliable water sources for agriculture and livestock while minimizing the risk of contamination in the river and other water sources?

26. Groundwater pump systems:

The existing hand-pump-equipped public boreholes in the vicinity of Pu Ngaol are typically 30-40 meters deep and have the capacity to pump a maximum of 4 m3 per hour. Can you suggest innovative ways to expand the accessibility of groundwater pumping systems and establish a distribution network to ensure a steady supply of water for both households and agricultural purposes?

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