Earthmoving machines excavate a wastewater canal in Phnom Penh’s Toul Kork ditrict in 2023. Post Staff
Anyone who excavates, digs or drills to install drainage systems or connect to wastewater systems without authorisation will now find themselves facing stiff penalties and possible jail time, thanks to newly-introduced legislation.
Article 104 of the recently promulgated Law on Wastewater Systems outlines terms of imprisonment from one month to a year and fines ranging from 400,000 riel ($100) to 4,000,000 riel ($1,000).
The law was enacted to ensure the quality, safety and sustainability of wastewater systems while protecting the environment and contributing to public health improvement. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport will oversee the implementation of the new bill.
Under Article 26, it mandates that the construction of buildings, business or production centres and similar facilities must include adequate wastewater treatment systems, drainage networks and related structures – which comply with technical wastewater standards – before they can be connected to the main drainage network.
According to Article 39, connections from special economic zones, industrial parks or innovation parks to the main drainage system require authorisation from the wastewater management authority. This process must consider technical standards, timelines, pollution levels and wastewater flow into connection points.
Article 103 stipulates that anyone connecting wastewater pipes from these zones to the main drainage system without authorisation, as specified in Article 39, will face the penalties detailed above.
Articles 48 and 105 state that entities which are not residential premises but discharge wastewater must build shared collection systems or private wastewater treatment facilities. Treated water must meet standards set by authorities before being discharged into the drainage system. Non-compliance will result in similar penalties of imprisonment and fines.
Until recently, the Kingdom had no specific law governing wastewater management. In the past, the Ministry of Environment has imposed fines on some companies through sub-decrees, with fines ranging from $10,000 to over $500,000 for discharging untreated wastewater into waterways, impacting the environment.
Khvay Atitya, environment ministry spokesperson, told The Post on December 2 that the Law on Wastewater Systems has broad implications, contributing to environmental protection, water quality and public health.
He noted that both solid and liquid waste pose significant risks to the environment and public health.
The ministry has introduced a circular strategy aimed at promoting cleanliness in Cambodia, with a focus on clean land, water and air. This includes reducing plastic waste and preventing litter from entering drainage systems.
Atitya explained that factories are required to filter water before it is inspected and discharged into public water sources.
“Currently, 19 factories out of the 122 which are identified as potential sources of pollution in Cambodia are equipped with automatic monitoring systems out of,” he said.
He affirmed the ministry’s full support for the new law, noting that it would serve as a pollution prevention measure for food sources, particularly fish, by safeguarding water sources from waste and plastic contamination.
