Improve Health with Clean Water in Rural Cambodia

Water borne diseases are the greatest health threat in Siem Reap province. In Cambodia, a country of seventeen million people, there are more than nine million cases of diarrheal disease annually. These diseases are most easily combated by providing access to clean water.

Trailblazer has worked in Svay Chek and Kok Kak villages, Angkor Thom district since 2012, providing clean water access to hundreds of families in these villages. Trailblazer installed biosand water filters [BSF] and drilled water pump wells, as well as conducted hundreds of training sessions on the proper use and maintenance of a BSF and the benefits of using filtered water, along with training on basic hygiene and sanitation with all the beneficiary families. 

There are areas in these villages where the iron content in the source water is very high and over time causes the filtration media to solidify, regardless of proper maintenance of the filtration media. After several years of use many of the BSFs are aging, broken or rotten, and the filtration media needs to be reinstalled. In more than half the cases, however, the BSFs cannot be reinstalled and need to be totally replaced. 

As part of its evaluation and monitoring, Trailblazer conducted research in 2022 on the status and function of BSFs that have been in the field for four to nine years in these two villages and listed those in need of attention. In concert with villagers and village chiefs, a list was complied of identified families who requested a new or reinstalled BSF. Due to time and uncontrollable environmental conditions 261 BSFs were found to have become inoperable. It was determined there are 171 BSFs that need to be reinstalled, and 90 that need to be replaced in these two villages.

In keeping with providing potable water to our beneficiaries, we wish to ensure access to clean water and good health to these families is maintained. A reinstall involves emptying the water filter of the sand and gravels [half inch and quarter inch sized gravels that prevent the sand from washing through the filter], washing out the cavity of the water filter of any remaining media residue, and putting in clean, fresh gravels and sand.

Each BSF is designed to service 15 people [one to three families - at an average family size of five] depending on how families are clustered. These 261 BSFs could therefore service a minimum of 1,305 people and up to 3,915 persons.

Staff found that the people like to use the BSF and are enjoying the clean taste of the water. Children are carrying a bottle of filtered water to school. Families are cooking with filtered water. Families are saving money by not having to buy bottled water, are experiencing better health and are saving money on medical care. They want to continue the ability to have access to clean water and maintain their health, whereby helping reduce poverty.

Trailblazer wants maintain the good health that was started for our village beneficiaries by renewing and securing their access to potable water. As you can see in these photos, the BSFs have been faithfully and thoroughly used.

With your help we can work towards implementing the reinstallation or replacement of all the 261 BSFs needed to keep providing clean water.

Thank you for contributing your desperately needed support.

The most telling indicator for a lack of development is water access, food security, nutrition, and health status of the people. One of the easiest ways to combat poverty and disease is to provide access to clean water sources, yet one in eight people in the world do not have access to it. Your support of a bio-sand water filter provides clean drinking water, and a latrine helps WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) out disease and builds better health and sanitation conditions.

As highlighted by the United Nations, it is important for any health program in a developing nation to focus on “the importance of toilets in supporting better nutrition and improved health. Lack of access to clean drinking water and sanitation, along with the absence of good hygiene practices, are among the underlying causes of poor nutrition.” 

The need for latrines in rural Cambodia has increased and local officials strongly discourage out-door defecation. There were requests for thousands of latrines for identified poor families in four districts where Trailblazer works. Building a latrine for a family helps promote the wellbeing and safeness of the beneficiaries, especially for women and children.

Trailblazer’s goal for 2023 is to build 100 latrines. With typically only one family using each latrine, and with an average family size of 5 people, our latrines will directly benefit 500 people. To reach this goal, we need your help. We are ever so grateful for your support of this effort. Thank you.