(Kandal): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that addressing waste and wastewater issues is directly linked to protecting the health and well-being of the people. He noted that when people’s health deteriorates, national development efforts inevitably face obstacles.
The premier spoke on Tuesday (May 6) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the sewerage system development project in Ta Khmau Town, Kandal province.
Samdech Thipadei underscored, “Properly managing waste and wastewater is increasingly important because these issues directly impact public health and well-being. If we live in an area where trash piles up near our homes, where it smells, and where wastewater surrounds the area, it becomes difficult to ensure the people’s health.”
In this regard, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underlined that the Royal Government's primary responsibility is to improve citizens' living standards and health. He added that public health concerns should not be addressed solely through medical treatment, but also through consideration of environmental factors and daily living conditions.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Hun Manet also instructed the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to continue working closely with relevant ministries, local authorities, and development partners to accelerate the planning of master development strategies for wastewater treatment systems in cities and major urban areas. He highlighted that these plans must align with the physical infrastructure development of those locations.
According to a report from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Ta Khmau City sewerage system development project will feature a separate system to distinguish between rainwater and wastewater, with two major construction components. The first involves building a wastewater treatment plant using natural waste stabilisation pond methods on a 30-hectare site, capable of treating 12,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day. This includes the construction of seven wastewater pumping stations, 125 kilometres of various types of sewer pipelines, and household connections to channel wastewater into the system, covering six communes, Kampong Samnanh, Daeum Mien, Ta kdol, Ta Khmau, Prek Ho, and Prek Russey, with a total service area of approximately 974 hectares. The second component focuses on stormwater drainage, including the installation of box and round culverts along a 5-kilometre stretch of National Road 21 from the Ta Khmau roundabout, as well as the construction and renovation of two stormwater pumping stations and the development of additional drainage networks throughout the city.
This project also includes a one-year period of operational training and maintenance to build the capacity of officials and personnel responsible for operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment system once construction is complete.
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