Construction of the Choeung Aek water treatment station in Phnom Penh broke ground in late May. The facility will treat waste water, improve water quality and the environment and enhance the capital’s appearance.

A grant from the Japanese government will finance the project with construction scheduled for completion in mid-November of 2023, said Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng on June 2.

“This project is the first of its kind in Phnom Penh to treat waste water that will flow into the Choeung Aek Lake and improve the environment around the lake and in southern areas of Phnom Pehn,” he said in a notice.

It said 3ha close to Neak Oknha Moha Pheakdey Saburisak in Meanchey district’s Chak Angre Leu commune would be filled with soil to build the treatment station.

The station can treat 5,000 cubic metres of waste water a day and pumps will be installed to transfer waste water from the Boeung Trabek pumping station.

The project’s construction company built site offices, a warehouse and a yard for materials in late May, the notice said.

In April 2019, the municipal hall and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an agreement to cooperate in developing a drainage system in the Choeung Aek area. Construction was scheduled to begin after a 12-month feasibility study was conducted.

“The development project in the Choeung Aek Lake area will become a model for the municipal administration. This project will play an important role in reducing pollution,” Sreng said.

JICA representative Ito Minpei said toxic substances flowing into rivers and lakes impacted the environment, the health of people and animals.

“According to research about environment restoration, a large portion of the budget is spent on the initial investment ... The first stage of restoration is to build drainage systems to prevent too much spending,” he said.

The administration hoped that people and all institutions in Phnom Penh will cooperate so the project can be successful.