Cambodia’s Transport Ministry and BORDA Sign Strategic Agreement to Modernize Decentralized Wastewater Management

• Proeksa Meas
• 9 September 2026
• Construction Focus
• 621 Views

Three-year technical initiative aims to establish national guidelines and a quality management framework to safeguard public health and environmental sanitation

Phnom Penh: Cambodia’s efforts to enhance sanitation infrastructure and environmental protection reached a vital operational milestone with the formalization of new national technical guidelines and quality management standards for decentralized wastewater treatment. On Friday, August 28, 2026, the General Department of Wastewater Treatment Systems under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and BORDA Cambodia executed a technical cooperation agreement while officially launching the project workshop titled “Technical Guidelines on Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems and Quality Management System (DEWATS-QMS)” in Phnom Penh. The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Kouch Bunlyt, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, representing H.E. Minister Peng Ponea, with participation from delegates representing the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Rural Development, alongside representatives from ESC, WASH-SDO, development partners, and national and international sector experts.

Spanning from 2026 to 2028, the technical cooperation project aims to elevate the quality, efficiency, and long-term sustainability of decentralized wastewater treatment systems across Cambodia by creating official national technical references and instituting the DEWATS-QMS quality mechanism across the entire project lifecycle. Under this multi-year framework, inter-agency teams will review existing legal, policy, and regulatory standards while establishing precise technical specifications for system planning, technology selection, engineering design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Furthermore, the initiative encompasses developing standardized DEWATS-QMS tools and operational protocols, conducting comprehensive stakeholder consultations, delivering targeted capacity-building training, validating procedures, and driving nationwide dissemination for national and sub-national implementation.

Speaking at the event, H.E. Kouch Bunlyt emphasized that establishing national technical guidelines and a structured DEWATS quality management system represents an essential and timely intervention. He noted that standardized benchmarks are critical to ensuring that every phase—from initial planning and design through construction, commissioning, operation, and routine maintenance—delivers high quality, optimal efficiency, and sustainable performance tailored to Cambodia’s developmental context.

The partnership between the General Department of Wastewater Treatment Systems and BORDA reflects a shared commitment to building a robust technical and institutional foundation for urban and rural sanitation governance. By embedding high-quality decentralized wastewater management standards into national development frameworks, Cambodia is taking a decisive step toward safeguarding public health, protecting natural ecosystems, and enhancing the overall quality of life for its citizens. (read more)

• MPWT
• DEWATS-QMS
• wastewater treatment
• Borda