Building Water Resilience in Pursat Province
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Observed every year on March 22nd, World Water Day is a United Nations initiative that underscores the vital importance of freshwater and advocates for its sustainable management. The day serves as a call to action, encouraging global efforts to address the water crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: ensuring water and sanitation for all by 2030.
In 2025, World Water Day centers around the theme of "Glacier Preservation," highlighting the essential role glaciers, mountain run-off, and snowmelt play in sustaining life and maintaining the global water cycle. These natural water sources provide nearly two billion people worldwide with water for drinking, agriculture, and energy.
In Cambodia, the 2025 World Water Day theme emphasizes “Strengthening Water Resources Resilience in Cambodia: Addressing Climate Change Challenges and the Global Importance of Glacier Preservation.” This theme resonates strongly as Cambodia grapples with climate-related water challenges, reinforcing the urgent need for resilient and sustainable water resource management.
Climate Challenges in Cambodia
Cambodia is one of the most climate impacted countries in Southeast Asia. Pursat Province faces multiple environmental challenges – flooding, drought, high groundwater and clay soil areas. Households in Pursat are extremely vulnerable to waterborne and hygiene related illnesses. They receive very little support to build appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities due to lack of climate resilient and challenging environment technologies and the significant time, effort and resources to support households in these challenging environments.
Our Response: WASH Project for Challenging Environments
To address these issues, East Meets West Foundation, with funding from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cambodia, has implemented the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project for Challenging Environments (Flood-Prone and Drought Areas) in Pursat province. The project specifically supports poor and poor plus vulnerable households across 20 villages in Snam Preah Commune, Bakan District, Pursat Province with the achievements as follows:
ü WASH (Water Safety Plan (WSP), Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS)) and latrine building/upgrading resilient to climate) project training workshop conducted for 58 local partners from 20 villages in Snam Preah Commune including Snam Preah Commune Council members, Bakan District deputy governors, female community volunteers, and local WASH suppliers.
ü Over 550 poor and poor plus vulnerable households educated on WASH related messages.
ü 550 bio-sand filters installed for 550 poor and poor plus vulnerable households
ü 550 twenty-liter-water bottles with taps for safe water storage provided for 550 poor and poor plus vulnerable households for safe water storage
ü 200 hygienic latrines built/upgraded from single to double pit for FSM onsite treatment to avoid piercing the pits to flow sludge to pollute water sources and are being used by 200 poor and poor plus vulnerable households.
Meet the Voices and Stories of the Community
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