Sihanoukville sewage masterplan to be finalised soon

• 23 August 2019
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The Ministry of Public Works and Transport held an inter-ministerial meeting on 23 August for final discussions on the result of the feasibility study of a multi-million-dollar sewage masterplan in Sihanoukville.

Presided over by the Minister of Public Works and Transport H.E. Sun Chanthol, the meeting was joined by Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), the company responsible for the project, as well as other relevant officers.

According to the proposal, the masterplan includes the construction of four treatment plants, 157km of main pipeline, 65km of sub-pipeline, and 210km of local-pipelines. This new system will be capable of treating up to 40,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day by 2021, and up to 60,000 cubic metres by 2030.

The master plan will be implemented in three phrases from 2019-2021, 2021-2023, and 2023-2030. The estimated cost for the first phase is about US$143 million.

Preah Sihanouk province currently has only one treatment plant located on 16 hectares of land. Funded by the Asian Development Bank, this plant started operating in 2006 and is capable of treating only 6,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day, which is insufficient for the province.

According to research by BUCG, due the rapid growth, Preah Sihanouk province currently produces about 25,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day. This number is predicted to increase to 47,000 cubic metres and 64,000 cubic metres by 2023 and 2030 respectively.

“Lower capability in our existing treatment plant is our biggest challenge. We can only treat only about 6,000 cubic metres per day, which is not enough. That is why we must implement this masterplan as soon as possible. This project will be the first mega sewage system in Preah Sihanouk province using a mechanical system,” said H.E. Sun Chanthol.

“We are currently studying the feasibility. I hope this meeting will be the final discussion before submitting to related ministries for budget approval,” he added.

While waiting for the new system to be installed, the ministry is also currently working very hard to tackle the excessive wastewater. Temporarily, technicians are blowing air into the existing treatment plant to help reduce the toxins in the water before releasing them into ocean.

Beside wastewater management, H.E. Sun Chanthol also urged the related officers to monitor the flooding issue in this province.