Cambodia says nearly 12 million cubic metres of polluted water kept out of public waterways

By August 2025, 52 factories had signed agreements and 42 had installed automatic wastewater monitors. Cambodia’s Environment Ministry said it prevented factories and companies from releasing 11,924,194 cubic metres of polluted water from January through August, protecting public waterways, local livelihoods and the environment. Environment Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya said the ministry had strengthened enforcement of the Environment and Natural Resources Code and monitored discharges from companies and factories into public waters. About 1.9 million cubic metres discharged in August met the applicable standards. The ministry’s Clean Water Surface campaign focuses on removing plastic from rivers and public water sources, improving water-quality monitoring, developing regulations and technical guidance, and installing treatment and automatic monitoring equipment at discharge sources as required by law. Khvay Atitya said the ministry was fully enforcing the law on water pollution from industry. High-risk sources must install and operate wastewater treatment and automatic monitoring equipment. By August 2025, 52 factories had signed agreements and 42 had installed automatic monitors. The spokesperson credited cooperation among the ministry, other agencies, local authorities, businesses, journalists and the public in carrying out the government’s environmental strategy, whose first pillar is cleanliness. The spokesperson added that Prime Minister Hun Manet gives high priority to preventing and reducing pollution of public waters and managing water quality sustainably to protect aquatic biodiversity and public health. Under the Environment and Natural Resources Code, all sites and industries with pollution sources must install automatic wastewater monitoring and data management systems. Other regulations in force also cover the monitoring, prevention and reduction of pollution in public waters. Preah Sihanouk Provincial Television. Reporter: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត