The new Mlech Water Treatment Plant in Kampot province’s Chumkiri district, which can produce 2,000 cubic metres of clean water a day, was formally inaugurated to meet the needs of the people in the area as well as in neighbouring Takeo province.

The inauguration ceremony of the plant was presided over by Sim Sitha, secretary of state at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation on May 10.

“This is another achievement of the government – as well as the Kampot Provincial Administration – in meeting the needs of the people,” he said.

Sitha added that the plant was established at the behest of minister Cham Prasidh, who urged the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) to conduct a feasibility study on the project – with the intention of seeking approval for the construction.

The plant is situated in Bak Nim village of the district’s Chres commune.

Yun Phally, provincial coordinator for rights group ADHOC, said the installation of a clean water system would improve the living standards of most of the general public in the area. He said he had observed people decrying the lack of clean water for many years.

“Chhouk and Chumkiri districts have had water shortages for many years. The launch of this plant means that people will no longer have to worry about access to clean water,” he said.

Phally said there were still districts in the province where people were reliant on wells and storage ponds and he had asked authorities to expand the clean water infrastructure.

Construction of the water treatment facility began in December 2018 and was completed in June 2020, at a cost of approximately $2.7 million.

The PPWSA emphasised that its leaders place the highest priority on the supply of clean water and are working hard to accelerate the construction of water treatment plants to meet the needs of the public across the country.