Cambodia’s Sdao Commune in Sesan District, Stung Treng Province, has secured a fresh and reliable supply of clean water following the handover of a new water treatment facility to the rural community on January 15, 2026. The handover ceremony, attended by more than 250 stakeholders, also marked the successful completion of a 15-month pilot initiative under the Republic of Korea (RoK)–United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Facility, also known as the P-LINK project.
“This handover marks an important milestone, as the project goes beyond installing new infrastructure to placing long-term ownership in the hands of the community,” said Ms. Tina Wang, Program Manager at the Sustainable Energy and Environment (SEE) Department of the Mekong Institute (MI), one of the P-LINK project partners. “By pairing climate-resilient technology with local capacity building, the pilot helps ensure that clean water not only flows today but can also be sustainably maintained over time.”
Led by the UNOSSC and funded by the RoK’s Ministry of Science and ICT, P-LINK places a special premium on aligning technology with community readiness. Under the project, MI worked with Korean start-up L2E Solutions to train 20 community leaders and residents to operate and maintain the new water facility, helping address the lack of technical staff in the rural area. Through hands-on training, residents with basic mechanical skills learned how to operate the solar-powered pumps and control panels that manage the system, allowing the facility to function reliably without constant external intervention.
At the same time, MI and L2E Solutions developed user-friendly training materials in Khmer, including large-format troubleshooting posters, daily maintenance checklists, and simplified guides for operating the system. These tools break down technical processes into clear, step-by-step instructions, making it easier for community members to manage the facility regardless of their educational background.
First of its kind
The infrastructure is the first science, technology, and innovation (STI) development project of its kind in the area, a strategically important region at the “3S” river junction of the Sekong, Sesan, and Srepok rivers. Communities in this area face persistent challenges, including muddy river water during the rainy season, limited irrigation options, seasonal shortages, and unsafe household water. Early consultations with residents indicated that the lack of clean water contributed to cases of skin conditions and other waterborne illnesses.
The new system is designed to address these issues through a multi-stage treatment process, including ultrafiltration, dual-media filtration, and activated carbon disinfection. This step-by-step process cleans water, removes impurities, and improves water safety, helping protect river-dependent communities from seasonal water stress and climate pressures. Powered by solar energy, the system can provide approximately 200 cubic meters of safe drinking water per day for 1,637 residents (386 households), as well as up to 1,000 cubic meters per day for agricultural irrigation. This supports both community health and local food production while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Overall, the facility demonstrates a practical water–energy–food (WEF) nexus solution and offers a model for climate-resilient water management across the wider Mekong Basin.
Management and expansion
To ensure the facility can operate sustainably over the long term, the Stung Treng Provincial Government and the Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC) have formally taken responsibility for its management. This marks a transition from international project oversight to locally led operations. The Stung Treng Provincial Water Utility will manage the household water supply, including the development of an affordable tariff system, and has been tasked with expanding the facility’s coverage. The authority is prepared to construct the necessary pipeline networks to deliver clean water directly to homes across the commune, particularly as an additional 1,000 households are projected to settle in Sdao.
At the same time, the Department of Agriculture will oversee the irrigation component of the system. Improved access to irrigation water is already encouraging plans to expand crop production and household gardens, supporting both livelihoods and local food security.
P-LINK is a cooperation project under the RoK-UNOSSC Facility. It brings together RoK’s Ministry of Science and ICT, UNOSSC, the Mekong River Commission, the Mekong Institute, STEPI, and other partners to apply integrated, multi-sectoral technology solutions across water, energy, and food systems—strengthening access, resilience, and livelihoods for vulnerable communities across the Lower Mekong Basin.
