Extension of the Siem Reap drinking water network

Cambodia’s second largest city, Siem Reap (270,000 inhabitants today) plans to welcome 440,000 inhabitants and 11 million tourists per year by 2035.

Aware of water needs, the Siem Reap Water Supply Authority has invested to increase its production capacity to 90,000 m3 of drinking water per day. However, the network covers only 54% of the population, and only 29% of the inhabitants are connected to the service. Many households and businesses use private wells to get access to underground water that they use as drinkale water supply, which can create geotechnical risks that could affect the foundations of the Angkorian temples. 

The project aims to improve water supply in the peripheral districts of Siem Reap. It is structured around 4 components: 

(i) A component for extending the network, enabling the installation of 245 kilometers of pipes and 25,000 water meters; 

(ii) A technical assistance to enhance operator performance;

(iii) A raising-awareness component among private and commercial users about connection to the public water service, and

(iv) A component of support measures dedicated to the implementation of the European Union delegated grant.

The total cost of the project amounts to €38.5 million, of which €25 million will be financed by an AFD loan, €6 million by a European Union grant and €7.5 million self-financed by SRWSA.

The project will contribute to improving the living conditions and public health of about 250,000 inhabitants of Siem Reap, especially in the most disadvantaged peripheral neighborhoods. It will allow all beneficiaries to access a safer, more reliable and less expensive drinking water service at home, including 50,000 households identified as poor. 

The project will also strengthen the capacity and financial viability of the operator, supporting its modernization and development at the provincial level.