Cambodia Embraces Nature-Based Solutions for Water Quality and Drainage with Australian Support

PHNOM PENH, Sept 14, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia is turning to nature-based infrastructure to tackle wastewater drainage in Phnom Penh and declining water quality in the Tonle Sap Lake area supplying Siem Reap, the industry minister said Monday, as part of an Australian-funded urban resilience program. Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Hem Vandy raised the issues during talks with Ben Furmage, chief executive of Water Sensitive Cities Australia at Monash University. He urged expansion of pilot projects to address urban heat, flooding, wastewater and water quality nationwide, citing Phnom Penh’s open drainage system and deteriorating raw water quality in Tonle Sap as priorities. “We need to turn ideas and experiments into something that can create real change on the ground,” Vandy said, calling for scalable models that could be replicated in other provinces. The discussion centred on the second phase of the Resilient Urban and Coastal Areas Support program, or RUCaS 2, which runs from 2026 to 2029 in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the initiative combines green infrastructure with conventional engineering. Furmage said the program would move from research toward pilot implementation, training and evidence-building on cost-effectiveness and maintenance. “We want to move from feasibility studies to something that can be practically implemented, effective and low-cost,” he said. Vandy encouraged building on a Battambang pilot and expanding successful models, while strengthening technical training. Demonstration programs are planned in Phnom Penh and Battambang, alongside cooperation with universities, government institutions and partners. The push adds to a series of Australian-backed initiatives in Cambodia this month, reflecting a shift in Canberra’s aid toward technical expertise and standards rather than direct construction.