3.10. Threats to the coastal environment

3.10.1. Waste from residential areas in Kamport Province

3.10.1.1 Sewage

Wastewater systems for households in coastal areas are very weak. All large urban centres are partly served by combined sewage and storm drainage systems that consist of conventional flush toilets, sometimes draining into septic tanks. The majority of sewage systems have not been maintained over the past decades and are now in a state of disrepair with 80 percent of the pipes damaged. Sewage is not discharged to treatment systems, but directly to waterways or water bodies, which are then used for drinking, bathing, swimming, and irrigation. As a consequence of improper discharge of sewage, waterborne disease, which as cholera, typhoid, and enteritis, are common throughout Kamport Province. Nearly two-thirds of all deaths of children under five years old are associated with waterborne disease.

To date, sewage from the provincial town has been discharged through the poor drainage system to open manmade canals or natural streams and then to coastal water without treatment.

3.10.1.2. Solid waste

The management of solid waste in urban areas is a major environmental problem. Although Cambodia does not have a high rate of waste regeneration, almost all urban areas have significant waste disposal problems that are on the rise. All kinds of waste are disposed in open areas, roads, streams, and lakes, barrow pits and private properties. This contributes to unsanitary conditions in urban areas such as unpleasant smells, blockage of drains resulting in flooding, and rainwater runoff from refuse causing surface water pollution.

3.10.1.3. Ambient water quality

To date, sewage from the provincial town of Kampot has been discharged through the poor draining system to open manmade canals or natural streams and then to the coastal water without treatment.

The marine water quality of Cambodia coastal zones was analysed under more than twenty parameters such as heavy metals and biological, and chemical properties, which are indicated as follows:

Table 4: Marine water quality data in Kampot Province, 2003

3.10.1.4. Sediment quality

It is understood that soil erosion often takes place in the rainy season, as there is heavy rainfall, which causes a rapid flow current from the upland to lowland and landslides of riverbanks. The major sources of soil erosion are deforestation and poor agricultural practices. Soil erosion in the mountain ranges also causes some estuaries to become shallow. However, no sedimentation surveys in coastal streams have yet been conducted.

It is noted that soil erosion has occurred where deforestation, poor agricultural practices (slash and burn), and removal of land from high ground to fill up ponds and low plains for settlements and carry out large and small scale handicraft activities. The eroded soil has been transported through manmade and natural water canals to the sea.

In Kampot Province, soil erosion and sedimentation have resulted from high water currents (floods), illegal deforestation, removal of topsoil for plantation, and high sea wave and current action. It is remarkable that the turbidity of stream water and seawater (near shorelines) is quite high during the rainy season, and in the dry season, sea and stream water become clearer.

Recently, information and scientific data related to marine sediment quality was collected and analysed; the parameters from 2003 are shown in the table as follows.

Table 5: Sediments data in Kampot Province, 2003

3.10.1.5. Biological samples

There is available information and data about biological samples along Cambodia‘s coastal areas. The result of biological samples are identified in the data sheet below.

Table 6: Biological samples data in Kampot Province, 2003

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Table of contents > 3. Sea Area > 3.10. Threats to the coastal environment

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Coastal ecosystems

3.3. Coastal resources

3.4. Other Natural Wonders

3.5. Fisheries

3.6. Oil and Gas

3.7. Salt pans

3.8. Medical plants

3.9. Threats to marine environment

3.10. Threats to the coastal environment

3.10.1. Waste from residential areas in Kamport Province

3.10.2. Waste from residential areas in Koh Kong Province

3.10.3. Waste from residential areas