Environmental Factor

Access to sustainable drinking water has been one of the major challenges facing Cambodia, predominantly in the rural
parts of the country. Due to the majority of the country consisting of low lying terrain or flat land, environmental factors
such seasonal climate (wet and dry season) and extreme weather such as floods and drought, and has greatly impacted its
water treatment and its consumption. According to White et al. (2013, 804), a study which aimed at assessing bottled
water as a means of safe drinking water in rural communities showed that there was a substantial variation in the
consumption of bottle water. Between the months of May and October, the TS1001 bottled water consumption were
reduced by more than 50% which correspond to the wet season of the year, when the availability of rainwater increases
(White et al. 2013, 804). Furthermore, due to the low lying terrain of the country has made it susceptible to floods and has
also been intensified by climate change (Davies et al. 2015,193). This has resulted in water- borne diseases such as
leptospirosis, typhoid fever, etc. and often these disease outbreaks have predominantly been spread due to flooding
(Davies et al. 2015,199). Thus

Impacts of change and no change

A major concern with the implementation of a water treatment project is the disposal of wastewater into bodies of water
(Mekong River) in the area. According to Holm and Marcussen (2009, 127), it was found that the wastewater fed
production systems had a significant level of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and was found that the concentration of PTE
in fish, particularly the liver and skin, were remarkably high. Although the consumption of these fish came about less than
10% short of the tolerable intake, the study came to conclusion that there were poor safety risks for consumers (Holm and
Marcussen 2009, 127). Thus

On the other hand, if the water project is not implemented it could exacerbate pre-existing issues such as the Arsenic
levels in the river and introduce unprecedented issues. According to Wang et al. (2012, 745), the consumption of fish
contributed the largest arsenic to one’s daily intake in Kandal (just over 60 percent) and concluded that the residents of
Kandal province were at a high health risk. Thus

Stakeholders – Village chief

One of the key or direct stakeholder identified in this water project is the village chief. A village chief is usually appointed
by a government official known as a commune chief and usually have a significant influence or power in the rural
communities due to the sovereignty nature of the position itself (Cascio and Beilin. 2010, 348). Since the project is
targeting rural communities, the village chief would be particularly concerned about the overall health and wellbeing of
his/her fellow villagers. Sustainable drinking water has led to upgraded learning facilities for children in the community and
has seen a great improvement in school attendance mainly for females (Unicef 2015, 7). Since the village chief has a moral
obligation in protecting its people it can be seen that the project will have a positive impact on the village chief.

Affordability
Since most of the rural households in Kratie province and Cambodia as a whole have low income, averaging around 1517
riels per month ($ 0.51 aud) (Cambodia socio economic survey 2016, 72) it is imperative that the water treatment project
suits the budget of the villagers. Per se, water consumption forms a basic essential need to the villagers in Kratie province
and as well as their livelihood in terms of sanitation and hygene, cooking etc.

Climate
Cambodia is a country that mainly consists of low lying terrain which makes very vulnerable to natural disaster such as
floods, droughts, typhoon and other extreme weather events due season climate (wet and dry). The wet season which
usually last for a six-month period (May to November), bringing with it over 80% of the total annual rainfall and this usually
results in floods and overflowing of the Mekong Basin and its tributaries (Davies et al. 2015,193). This does not only affect
local residents and properties but also impedes the progress the development in the area (Ly et al. 2018, 269). Therefore,
the equipment of the water project need to be specially designed and equiped to withstand such climatic catastrophes so
as fulfill the needs and wants of the stakeholders.

Jacobs REFERENCE.

White, A. Hutchens, P. Byars and B. Antizar – Ladislao. 2013. “The Effect of Seasonal Climate on Bottled Water in Rural
Cambodia” Water Science & Technology: Water Supply 13 (1): 798- 807. doi: 10.2166/ws.2013.063.
Davies, Lachlan McIver, Yoonhee Kim, Masahiro Hashizume, Steven Iddings and Vibol Chan. 2015. “Water-Borne Diseases
and Extreme Weather Events in Cambodia: Review of Impacts and Implications of Climate Change” International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health 12 (1): 191-213. doi:10.3390/ijerph120100191.

Holm, Helle Marcussen and Anders Dalsgaard. 2010. “Fate and Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements in Wastewater-Fed
Food Production Systems— The Examples of Cambodia and Vietnam”. Irrigation Drainage Systems 24 (2): 127–142. DOI
10.1007/s10795-009-9086-6.

Wang, Suthipong Sthiannopkao, Zhuo-Jia Chen, Yu-Bon Man, Jun Du, Guang-Hua Xing, Kyoung-Woong Kim, Mohamed
Salleh Mohamed Yasin, Jamal Hisham Hashim and Ming-Hung Wong. 2013. “Arsenic Concentration in Rice, Fish, Meat and
Vegetables in Cambodia: A Preliminary Risk Assessment.” Environmental Geochemical Health 35 (1):745–755 DOI
10.1007/s10653-013-9532-0.

Cascio and Ruth Beilin. 2010. “Of Biodiversity and Boundaries: A Case Study of Community-Based Natural Resource
Management Practice in The Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia” Environmental Conservation 37 (3): 347–355.
doi:10.1017/S0376892910000548

Ly, Lengthong Kim, Séverine Demerre, and Sokchhay Heng. 2018. “Flood Mapping Along the Lower Mekong River in
Cambodia” Engineering Journal 22 (1): 269-278. DOI:10.4186/ej.2018.22.1.269.

National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning. 2016. Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey. Cambodia.
https://www.nis.gov.kh/nis/CESES/Final%20Report%20CSES%202016.pdf