Assessing groundwater sustainability and enhancing transboundary collaboration in the Cambodia-Mekong Delta Aquifer
On 25-26 November 2024, an IUCN team visited two Cambodian provinces that border Viet Nam: Prey Veng and Svay Rieng. The visit aimed at better understanding the groundwater monitoring networks in southern Cambodia, forming foundations for future transboundary groundwater information sharing. The visit was part of the Strengthening the Sustainability of the Transboundary Aquifer in Cambodia and the Mekong Delta (CMDA) Project, funded by GEF with the execution and implementation of FAO and IUCN, respectively.
Photo: IUCN team and experts visited a monitoring well in Svay Rieng, Cambodia © IUCN Cambodia
Photo: Different rice crops in field in Prey Veng © IUCN Cambodia
Photo: A visit to a rice farmer house in Svay Rieng, Cambodia © IUCN Cambodia
Photo: A monitoring well in Svay Rieng, Cambodia © IUCN Cambodia
The visit was led by the Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDoWRAM[TN1] [JB2] ) and was an opportunity to gather information on groundwater demand, groundwater management, and water use practices. By understanding the capacities and needs of local agencies and stakeholders, IUCN will develop a long-term vision on the availability of groundwater across the CMDA. The visit to Prey Veng and Svay Rieng was a first step in addressing the sustainability challenges of the transboundary aquifer system.
On the first day, 21 participants met at Prey Vieng PDoWRAM. They included representatives of PDoWRAM, MoWRAM (Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology), MoE (Ministry of Environment), UNESCO Cambodia, and ITC (Institute of Technology Cambodia).
The group participated in the monitoring of five groundwater wells. Results show that groundwater levels have declined by 6-7 m over the past 10 years with some areas showing declines of up to 10 m. According to PDoWRAM, the primary driver of this depletion is intensive rice farming, which has increased from two or three crops/year to meet increasing food and economic development demands.
In Svay Rieng, 16 participants met in the PDoWRAM office before visiting three groundwater monitoring wells. Here, groundwater depletion is driven by domestic and industrial, as well as agricultural use. We will work with our Cambodian government partners to develop sustainable groundwater management policies.
Dr. Oeung Chantha, MoWRAM Undersecretary of State, highlighted the importance of groundwater for Cambodia’s development. He announced plans to hold nationwide meetings with PDoWRAM to share information and responsibilities. In 2025, MoWRAM will introduce a groundwater management framework to mobilise national efforts, set guidelines, and coordinate donors’ activities more effectively.
Groundwater underpins daily life in Cambodia. IUCN emphasised the need for robust cooperation with key national and local stakeholders to improve groundwater management. Collaborative efforts include strengthening governmental partnerships with MoWRAM and MoE, engaging with local authorities such as PDoWRAM, especially in border provinces, as well as leveraging expertise from institutions like the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) to facilitate data-driven decision-making.
IUCN will focus on capacity building and cross-border collaboration. Some activities include practical training sessions for local water resource officers to strengthen technical knowledge, improve monitoring practices and exchange visits between Cambodia and Viet Nam to share best practices and foster regional cooperation.