Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority
The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) is the municipal water utility that serves Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh and surrounding areas.
In 1992 it provided low-quality piped water at very low pressure (0.2 bar) for only 10 hours per day to only 20% of the city's residents. Non-revenue water was extremely high at 72% due to illegal connections, manipulation of bills and physical leakage. Tariffs were extremely low, there was no metering and less than half of the amounts billed were collected. Staff were underpaid and demoralized. The utility then underwent a dramatic turnaround—staff engaged in corrupt activities were fired, bill payment was enforced, illegal connections were regularized, metering was introduced and the utility gained autonomy from the municipality in financial and personnel matters. In the next fourteen years the customer base multiplied by nine reaching over 90% of residents, service quality improved from intermittent to continuous supply of safe drinking water at good pressure of 2 bar, and non-revenue water was cut to only 6%. Tariffs were increased and the utility went from being bankrupt to making a modest profit. It now has motivated, well-paid staff. According to one observer, in 2012 its "public image is excellent". The key to its success laid in "leadership, professionalism, integrity (and) commitment" as well as "community participation and information sharing (...), good governance, transparency and accountability". Significant financial support from external donors, initially through grants and then through soft loans, also was essential in making the turnaround possible. PPWSA's achievements were recognized through international awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2006 and the in 2010.
Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is located on the Mekong River. The flow of the Mekong River during the dry season depends heavily on the Tonlé Sap Lake located about 100 km to the northwest of the city. The lake stores water during the wet season and releases it during the dry season, acting as an important buffer. The Tonlé Sap River between Phnom Penh and the lake reverses its flow twice a year, first filling and then draining the lake. Surface water is the main source of drinking water, complemented by groundwater. Surface water is abstracted from the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap and the Bassac River. It is treated in three treatment plants: Phum Prek with a capacity of 150,000 m3/day, Cham Car Morn (20,000 m3/day) and Chruoy Chang War (150,000 m3/day). The first phase of a fourth plant at Niroth was completed in June 2013 with a capacity of 130,000 m3/day, to be followed by a second phase with the same capacity to be completed in 2016.
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