J1271N Good Water for Cambodia

The Situation

Access to safe drinking water remains a critical challenge for many rural communities in Cambodia, particularly in and around Siem Reap and surrounding provinces. While national progress has been made, a significant number of families still rely on untreated surface water from ponds, rivers, and shallow wells that are vulnerable to contamination. Waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, and cholera remain prevalent and are a leading cause of preventable illness, especially among children.

Unsafe water directly impacts family health, education, and economic stability. Children miss school due to illness, healthcare costs place strain on already limited household incomes, and women and children often spend hours collecting water rather than engaging in education or income-generating activities. Poor hygiene awareness further compounds these challenges.

Although government and international programs exist, gaps remain in remote and marginalised communities where infrastructure is limited, and long-term sustainability is often lacking. There is a demonstrated need for household-level, durable, and culturally appropriate water solutions that combine practical technology with education and local capacity building. Water for Cambodia has a strong presence in these communities and has identified biosand filtration as an effective, low-cost, and sustainable solution when paired with hygiene education.

The Objectives

The Good Water for Cambodia project aims to improve health outcomes and reduce waterborne illness in vulnerable rural Cambodian communities by providing access to safe drinking water through household biosand filtration and education.

Over a three-year period, the project will:

• Deliver and install biosand water filters for families most in need
• Provide hygiene, usage, and maintenance education to ensure long-term effectiveness
• Build local capacity by training community members