The Khmer government plans to spend approximately $200 million on increasing the capacity of water treatment plants and organising sewage systems in Preah Sihanouk province to prevent wastewater from flowing into the sea and protect the environment.
Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth and Transport Minister Sun Chanthol on Tuesday visited water treatment plants in Sihanoukville to study ways to increase their treatment capacity to cope with the increasing construction there.
Mr Chanthol said that with the growth of investment and strong development in the province, including increased construction of commercial and residential buildings, resorts, hotels and factories, the amount of wastewater produced is also rising.
He said that currently, a water treatment plant has the capacity to purify only about 5,700 cubic metres per day, while up to 25,000 cubic metres of wastewater flows from locations in the province daily.
Mr Chanthol noted that more attention needs to be paid towards increasing the capacity of water treatment plants in the province to 64,000 cubic metres per day and that the drainage systems also need to be improved.
