Kampong Cham Expands Clean Water Access with New Supply System

KAMPONG CHAM, May 20, 2026 (KPT) — Thousands of families in Kampong Cham now have access to safe piped water following the inauguration of a major expansion project aimed at improving public health, supporting economic growth and strengthening urban resilience.

The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, together with the Asian Development Bank and Agence Française de Développement, inaugurated the upgraded Kampong Cham Water Supply System on Tuesday.

Officials said service coverage in the city and surrounding areas has risen from about 49 percent in 2018 to 76 percent in 2025. The US$12.9 million expansion more than doubled connections to the Kampong Cham Water Utility, increasing beneficiaries from 44,955 to 89,030 people. Household connections rose from 10,464 to 19,339, including 414 poor households that received subsidized fees.

Implemented under the Provincial Water Supply and Sanitation Project, the system includes a new intake and pumping station, treatment plant and expanded pipeline network. Production capacity has been boosted by 11,600 cubic meters per day, bringing total output to 28,100 cubic meters.

Industry Minister Hem Vanndy said reliable water supply is vital for public health and productivity as Cambodia continues to urbanize. ADB Country Director Yasmin Siddiqi called the project one of the most impactful investments in community health and economic growth.

The Kampong Cham project follows last month’s inauguration of the Battambang Water Supply System and forms part of Cambodia’s broader US$108.7 million programme to modernize provincial water infrastructure with support from ADB, AFD, the European Union and the government.