Groundwater Resources in Cambodia

Mr. Sok Sophally

Deputy Director

Department of Rural Water Supply

Ministry of Rural Development

Kingdom of Cambodia

“Regional Technical Workshop and Study Tour on Groundwater Information in the Lower Mekong Basin“

17 February, 2014Thailand

-Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) provide only Rural Drinking water supply to rural population.

-MRD has several technologies option in order to support to rural community such as:

+ Deep well

+ Shallow well

+ Community pound with filter

+ Rain water jar

+ House hold water filter

+ Small piped water system

-MRD collects and store only all about technologies

-Ground water studies have been started since 1996 for 8 provinces by JICA .

Responsibility of Ministry of Rural Development in Water Sector

Drinking Water Resources in Cambodia

• Abundance of water in Cambodia– Water quantity and water quality

• Many useable sources of water– Surface water

• Rivers

• Lakes

– Groundwater • Dug wells (5-15m)

• Tube wells (50-200m)

– Rainwater

• Seasonality associated with some sources

Piped14%

Tubewell27%

Dugwell26%Rain

1%

Surface23%

Vendor8%

Other1%

Dry Season Drinking Water Source Breakdown

National Census 2008National Institute of Statistics

Drinking Water Resources in Cambodia

• 53% of Cambodian households drink from groundwater sources in the dry season

• Many households switch to rainwater in the rainy season

• Poor microbial water quality common– Surface water

– Shallow wells

– Rainwater

• Sometimes poor chemical water quality– Groundwater

Able to mitigate using household water treatment and education

Able to mitigate using alternative water sources

Status of Groundwater Resources in Cambodia

• Groundwater is available almost everywhere in plain area except Dry-Zone in Central and Northwest region

• Groundwater study is in progress (8 provinces out of 24 completed)

• Groundwater is major source for drinking water supply in Cambodia; 53% of Cambodian households drink from groundwater sources in the dry season

• No data available for Groundwater Exploitation in Cambodia yet. About 270,000 tube-wells with hand pump are functioning for drinking water purpose.

Major issues and challenges threatening Groundwater Resources

• Groundwater quality problems with high arsenic and iron (Fe) contents in Mekong and Tonle Sap river basin (along the rivers)

• Saltwater intrusion from sea in costal areas (Southeast provinces)

• Industrial zones are expanding in Cambodia; potential problems of groundwater contamination from untreated industrial wastes

• At this present, groundwater is used only for small community water supply; but trends to exploit more groundwater for industrial use and agricultural irrigation.

• Potentials of major threat for over exploitation without legal control of groundwater administration. Groundwater management partially included in the Water Resources Law.

Potential Consequences of Groundwater Issues

• Health impact of Arsenic contamination is major consequences

• Damage of soils from saltwater intrusion in coastal regions. In these areas groundwater tables are low and saltwater intrusion into these shallow aquifers could damage soil quality;

• Groundwater is major source of drinking water. If untreated industrial wastes are uncontrolled, the groundwater quality will be deteriorated.

• Over-exploitation of groundwater could affect to environmental impact and historical sites in Cambodia (Therefore the Government start control of Groundwater development in Siem Reap )

Hot Spots of Groundwater Problems

• At present Arsenic contamination is “hot-spot” problem;

• approximately 1607 villages located in these 7 Provinces with a total population of 2.25 million

• Seven provinces along the Mekong River Basin and Tonle Sap Basin have Arsenic problem in Groundwater

• 38% of tube-wells in Seven provinces area are contaminated with arsenic above (50ppb)

• High-iron content is not health issue: but peoples are reluctant to use groundwater with high-iron contents.

• Fluoride contamination is traced in some areas; but need further detail study to know the real problems with Fluoride.

Policy responses to mitigate the groundwater problems and difficulties

• There are Environment Law and Water Resources Law related with Groundwater Protection

• The Government adopted “Cambodia Drinking Water Standard” including groundwater quality for drinking purposes

• The Government has prepared Arsenic Strategy to prevent health impact of people living in high risk areas of arsenic contamination in ground water in Cambodia

• Area wise control of Groundwater development is applied by Local Government Authorities (e.g Siem Reap to protect Historical sites)

Government Interventions for Groundwater Issues• Investigation and Testing for Arsenic Reduction

Technology Development (by MRD/NGOs, and Institute of Technology of Cambodia)

• Potable Iron Reduction Plants are developed and installed on high-iron content tube-wells (operated with hand pump)

• Continuation of Groundwater Study in Northeast Region (By MRD with assistance of JICA)

• Groundwater Database under developing (by MRD/ MOWRAM with WB assistance)

• Groundwater Water Quality Mapping by MRD in cooperation with RDI (NGO) and WHO

Challenges

• At present groundwater are extracted from shallow aquifers; there are potentials for exploration of deep aquifers (deeper than 200 meters). These deep aquifer explorations required updated technology applications.

• Groundwater, river basins and shallow aquifer areas are always replenished by rainwater and river-flood water. Climate change impact can affect to groundwater recharge in these areas.

• Salt water intrusion in Costal region is big challenges; need technology development to control of mitigate impacts.

Policy supports to increase groundwater resource sustainability

• Law enforcement on Groundwater Management and Environmental Laws to protect Groundwater contaminations

• Groundwater Studies (investigation, groundwater mapping,) are essential for Groundwater Resource Management;

• Groundwater Database and Functional Monitoring System establishment (on Quality and Quantity) related with inter-ministerial cooperation.

• Mekong River is one important source for recharging of shallow groundwater and sub-surface water in Cambodia. Mekong River Management is a regional issue.

Expectation to the regional knowledge-hub for groundwater management

• Regional Knowledge-hub can provide cooperation and networking opportunities for regional issues

– Saltwater Intrusion in Lower Mekong and Costal Areas

– Mekong River System Management for groundwater recharging in lower Mekong Areas

• Regional Cooperation for Appropriate and Updated Technology Development

• Study and Mitigation Strategy Development in responding to Climate Change Impacts on Groundwater

• Sharing information on groundwater data and regional monitoring

MRD needs support for Groundwater Study in whole Cambodia

• Conduct groundwater study

– Groundwater map

– Groundwater discharge and recharge

• Capacity building to national and sub-national level staffs

• Groundwater instrument and equipment for study and monitoring.

• International experts

Groundwater is Valuable Resource in Cambodia

Thank you for Your Kind Attention