Australia backs private operators to deliver clean water in rural Cambodia

KAMPONG THOM, Cambodia, Jan 22, 2026 (KPT) – Australia is backing Cambodia’s drive to expand access to clean water by supporting private operators to deliver services in rural areas once considered commercially unviable.

The Australian Embassy and Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation this week inaugurated a climate-resilient water treatment plant and distribution network in Taing Kouk district, Kampong Thom province.

The Pongro Water Treatment Plant will provide piped, treated water to more than 10,000 residents across seven villages, as well as four schools and a health centre.

Officials said the project supports Cambodia’s goal of universal access to safe water by 2030 and strengthens resilience to floods and droughts. It is part of a decade-long partnership that has already helped more than 1.2 million Cambodians gain access to affordable water through over 90 systems nationwide.

Minister Hem Vanndy said the initiative reflects progress in expanding climate-resilient services through Australian grant financing to the private sector, noting it also highlights more than 70 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Australian Ambassador Derek Yip said reliable water access underpins wellbeing and economic growth, adding that the new system will improve health outcomes, reduce vulnerability to climate shocks and create new opportunities for families in Kampong Thom.

Nationally, about 55 percent of Cambodian villages currently have piped water, compared with 48 percent in Kampong Thom. Local residents said the new supply has eased long-standing challenges, replacing shared wells that often ran dry.

Australia is working with Cambodia to expand affordable services nationwide under its flagship Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development.