Rural drinking water supply and health effects of contaminated with arsenic and pathogens in Kandal Province, Cambodia | |
| Author | Yim Mongtoeum |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.EV-05-1 |
| Subject(s) | Water--Purification--Arsenic removal--Cambodia Water--Pollution--Cambodia Drinking water--Arsenic content--Cambodia Drinking water--Contamination--Cambodia |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study consists of a discussion regarding rural drinking water supply and sanitation conditions, the topics that major concerns for both the government and development agencies. It includes a review of on-going activities, achievements and identification of the problems and constraints in the sector. The study was conducted with a main goal to collect and analyze available information in connection with the rural drinking water supply options, water quality problems, quantity and their mitigation as well as the rural sanitation coverage and the extent of health hygiene practices. It is found that the rural drinking water coverage was approximately 99% for drinking purposes but due to arsenic contamination in rural hand tube wells the percentage rapidly fell down to 74%. The sources of water available in Cambodia for the development of alternative water supplies are groundwater, surface water and rainwater. Three groundwater-based options, two surface water-based options and rainwater harvesting techniques have been experimentally adopted as alternative water supply options in Cambodia. Deep tube wells, dug/rings wells, treatment of surface waters and few arsenic removal units have a good potential for water supply in arsenic-affected areas and are the options are suitable for adoption in the national program. Most options are site specific and no single option can provide arsenic-safe water in all geographical areas and socioeconomical sections of the population. Overall, 43% of the population in Cambodia use latrines of which 17% are sanitary (water seal) and 26% are pit (without water seal) latrines. The rest of the people, 57% do not have these facilities basically due to their ignorance in hygienic practices and not due to financial problems. The majority of rural people have only hanging latrines. As a result the mitigation of the water-related health impacts has been negligible due to the low coverage by latrine-based sanitation and good personal hygiene practices. Motivation work should be done among the village people to convince them of the need for a hygienic latrine. On the other hand, much more work should be done in the villages so that every family member uses the sanitary latrines already present but not utilized. In Cambodia, Arsenic is also a big problem due to the past survey conducted by MRD supported by UNICEF, WHO and NGOs showing that arsenic concentration in some provinces such as Kandal, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Svay Rieang and Battambang is detected above WHO guideline, 10μg/l. The highest numbers of arsenic contaminated wells have been reported from Kien Svay district of Kandal province, while this partly reflects a concentration of testing in this district it is known to be an area of significant contamination. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Aramaki, Toshiya; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh;Shipin, Oleg; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan; |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |