Clean, affordable piped water

Piped, treated water is the gold standard for sustainable access to clean water. Immediate in-home access is especially beneficial for women, people living below the poverty line, and people with disability. While urban coverage is 70%, only 47% of the total population can access piped water (2020). An estimated investment of at least US$264 million is needed to cover the remaining villages.

Australia’s former infrastructure program, 3i: Investing in Infrastructure, implemented 80 viability gap financing investments for water projects in Cambodia. This supplied water to more than 253,000 households. Viability gap financing mobilised private sector investments of approximately US$16 million (or 55% of total investment costs).

Without viability gap financing, these households would not have access to clean, piped water. Monthly water consumption has since doubled from 5 to 12 cubic metres, particularly among households that previously accessed water through truck delivery.

CAPRED is working on other financing options such as the Water Development Fund. We are also helping the Royal Government of Cambodia on regulatory, monitoring and enforcement capacity; testing new business models; providing technical support to private water operators; and working to encourage more youth participation in the sector.