3.10.3. Waste from residential areas

3.10.3.1. Sewage

Liquid waste management in Sihanoukville has not been carried out properly due to several factors. Based on the assumption that 14,415 m³ of liquid waste a day (100L multiplied by the number of people in1999) is produced in Sihanoukville, liquid waste is discharged from many locations such as households, hotels, restaurants and markets. Most of the wastewater is discharged directly into sewage pipes and runs into river streams or natural ponds and finally to the sea. No wastewater treatment plants have been built yet and liquid waste therefore has not been properly managed. In addition, about 72 m³ of liquid waste discharged from factories every day is not treated.

To date, sewage from Sihanoukville has been discharged through the poor draining system to open manmade canals or natural streams and then to the coastal water without treatment. Table A40 illustrates the estimated sewage discharged from Sihanoukville.

Table 12: Amount of sewage discharged from the urban area of,
Sihanoukville 1998-2021

3.10.3.2. Solid waste

The management of solid waste in urban centres is a major environmental problem. Although Cambodia does not have a high amount of waste generation (Table 13), almost all urban areas have significant waste disposal problems that are continuing to grow. All kinds of waste are disposed in open areas, roads, rivers, streams, and lakes, barrow pits and private property. This contributes to unsanitary conditions in urban centres such as unpleasant smells, blockage of drains resulting in flooding, and rainwater run-off from refuse causing surface water pollution. For example, toilet facilities within premises are available only to 25.2 percent of households in Sihanoukville.

Table 13: Solid waste in Sihanoukville, (Mittapheap District)

Presently, as pollution in the municipality is growing very fast, the production of waste has also increased. Solid waste figures from private waste collection companies (which collect solid waste from different locations) reveals that about 19 tons of solid waste is produced per day (see Table 14) and only 30 percent of the waste is collected (in the three districts). Based on the above figures, 63 tons of solid waste is produced per day.

Table 14: Daily waste collection in, Sihanoukville

3.10.3.3. Ambient water quality

Management of wastewater from households in cities and provincial centres is very limited. All large urban centres are linked by sewage systems that consist of conventional flush toilets, sometimes draining into septic tanks. The majority of the sewage system has not been maintained over the past three decades and is now in a state of disrepair with 80 percent of the pipes damaged. Sewage is not discharged to treatment systems, but to waterways or water bodies, which are directly used for drinking water, bathing, swimming and irrigation. As a consequence of the improper discharge of sewage, waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid and enteritis are prevalent. Nearly two third of the all death children under five year-old are associated with waterborne diseases.

Marine water quality was analysed under more than twenty parameters and samples such as heavy metals and biological and chemical properties, which are indicated as follows.

Table 15: Marine water quality data in Sihanoukville, 2003

3.10.3.4. Sediment quality

It is understood that soil erosion often takes place during the rainy season, as there is heavy rainfall, which causes a rapid flow current from the upland to lowland and landslides of riverbanks. In Sihanoukville, there is no information about soil erosion but rehabilitation of the seaport in Sihanoukville may generate some kind of sedimentation, particularly within the port area. Furthermore, the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to expand the international port of Sihanoukville, but activities to monitor dumping and dredging operations which influence marine life and reduce transparency have not been introduced.

Recently, information and scientific data related to marine sediment quality was collected and analysed. Parameters from 2003 are shown in the table below.

Table 16: Sediments data in Sihanoukville, 2003

3.10.3.5. Biological samples

Information and data about biological samples along Cambodia coastal areas is available. The result of biological samples is identified in the table below.

Table 17: Biological samples data in Sihanoukville, 2003

References

• - Ashwell.1997
• - ADB 5712-REG: Coastal and Marin Environmental Management in the South China Sea, Phase 2 ─ Final Report; September 2000
• - BDP. 2003
• - Basin Development Plan Programme Sub-Area Analysis and Development The Se San/Sre
• Pok/Se Kong Sub-Area SA-7C); Cambodia National Mekong Committee
• - Bonheur, N. Sep. 2003. Carbonnnel 1962-63.
• - Cambodia National Mekong Committee. Sub-Area Analysis and Development The Se San/Sre Pok/Se Kong Sub-Area SA-7C, 9C, 10C and 6C &8C,
• - Carbonnel and Guiscafr.1963.
• - Chrin Sokha (Ministry of Environment). Environmental Challenges of Cambodia 2000;
• - Chrin Sokha (Ministry of Environment). Environmental Challenges of Cambodia 2001;
• - Chrin Soka. April 2005. Environmental Hazards and Risks in Cambodia: An Analysis
• - Chrin Sokha. Oct. 2005. Preliminary Review of Water Quality Emergency Management Arrangement in Cambodia,
• - Carl Bro International. March 1998. Environmental Management in the Costal Zone: Cambodia
• - CNMC.2003
• - Department of Environmental Pollution Control. Ministry of Environment.Feb.2003. Progress Report and Activities by Land-based Pollution Component
• - Department of Environmental Pollution Control. Ministry of Environment. Feb. 2003. Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand, Draft report a focus on hotspot areas in Cambodia
• - Department of Environmental Pollution Control. Ministry of Environment. Revising Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Golf of Thailand
• - Department of Environmnetal Pollution Control. Feb. 2003. Progress report and activities by land-based pollution component
• - Dirk Lamberts (Asia Pacific Fishery Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. September 2001). Tonle Sap Fisheries: A Case Study on Flood Plan Gillnet Fisheries
• - Hart.2001
• - Ministry of Environment. Jan. 1998. National Environmental Action Plan 1998-2002
• - Ministry of Environment. 1994
• - Ministry of Environment. Supported by National Capacity Development Project - DANIDA
• State of Environmental Report 2004
•  
• - Ministry of Environment, supported by IDRC. June 2000. Mangroves Meanderings: Learning about Life in Peam Krasoap Wildlife Sanctuary
• - Ministry of Environment. Dec.2000. First National Workshop’s Report on Coastal Zone Management;
• - Mekong River Commission (MRC).1993
• - Mekong River Commission.2002.Basin Development Planning
• - Mekong River Commission 2003. State Basin Report
• - Mekong River Commission Water Utilization Programme - 2001
• - Mekong River Commission (MRC) 2002j
• - Mekong River Commission (MRC).2003 e
• - Mekong River Commission (MRC) 2003 i
• - MOWRAM and PDWRM
• - MOWRDM.2003.
• - National Instutte of Statistics, Ministry of Planning. July 1998. General Population Census of Cambodia 1998: Final Census Results
• - Nielsen. 2002
• - Nielsen.2004
• - Rasmussen W.C. et al. 1997
• - Technical Coordination Unit for the Tonle Sap. 2001. Water Resources, a guilde the global environment. 1996-1997
• - Waste Management Program in Cambodia 2002-2006
• - WUP - JICA
• - Draft Report of Review of National Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
•  
• Data and information as indicated in this section: State of Water can be used for dissemination purposes.

next »

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