The third wastewater treatment plant along the Ochheuteal canal in the Preah Sihanouk provincial town of Sihanoukville, capable of treating 20,000 cubic metres of polluted water daily and costing approximately $20 million, was officially inaugurated to address the release of contaminated sewage in the area.
The opening ceremony of the facility was overseen by Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Say Samal and Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun, along with numerous other stakeholders on March 22, as reported by the provincial administration.
Speaking at the event, Chamroeun noted that as of March this year, the coastal province has three operational treatment plants.
He said these facilities aim to tackle the province’s challenge of discharging large volumes of waste and toxic substances, which could adversely affect the surrounding environment, including people, animals, plants, biodiversity and beaches.
He noted that the liquid waste is treated to meet environmental standards using the latest Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) technology, known for its stability and high efficiency, before being released into the sea.
“The … plant is energy-efficient, noiseless and odourless,” he added.
Samal described the facility as another accomplishment from the previous government, reflecting a successful implementation in both the past and present mandates, with continued hard work essential for future progress.
“Sihanoukville is an exemplar in urban road infrastructure, featuring vehicle lanes, motorbike and bicycle paths, sidewalks, tree-lined streets, drainage systems, clean water systems and fibre optic cables, forming the first model of its kind,” he stated.
“The town boasts a dynamic international port and airport, electricity and clean water, and despite not being perfect, it is a small, clean, easy-to-live-in town with a robust economy,” he added.
Samal called on relevant authorities to promote the positive aspects of the province, known for its “beautiful shops, delectable food and quality accommodation”, to attract both national and international tourists.
“We should collectively showcase on [the internet] the tourist sites, beaches, islands and major resorts in the province. Our goal is to ensure a safe, family-friendly environment by eliminating weapons, explosives and drugs,” he said.
The third wastewater treatment plant processes wastewater from zones 5 and 6, covering an area of 2,690ha in Sihanoukville’s Commune IV. It was constructed by X-Water Technology Co Ltd with a total budget of nearly $20 million.
