Pouy Ta Sak Well Project – Cambodia

Location
Pouy Ta Sak Village, Tmor Kol District, Boung Preng Commune, Battambang, Cambodia

Community Description
Pouy Ta Sak Village is located in the District town of Tmor Kol, Commune of Boung Preng, and the Provincial town of Battambang. Battambang is the second largest province in Cambodia. This village is on the border of Battambang and the Province of Banteay Meanchey. It is approximately 53 kilometers to central Battambang, and about 35 kilometers to the center of Banteay Meanchey.

Pouy Ta Sak Village was created in 1979, after the end of the Khmer Rouge, and has continued to struggle ever since. There is only one well in the entire community, and no electricity. The daily challenges and lifestyle are incredibly difficult for community members. There are 350 people residing in this rural community, all of whom work as rice farmers, and many of whom find it necessary to work at multiple jobs to subsist..

Pouy Ta Sak Primary School is located in the village. The next closest school is Sovankiri Secondary School, which is about five kilometers away.

Water for household use is generally carried in buckets on poles on the shoulders of the villagers to their homes from the current well or from the local streams. However, during the dry season, these streams dry up and provide community members with little water.

During the dry season villagers on average walk 2 km to get water from the local ponds if available. Nonetheless, dependence on these ponds due to the weather season has been a hazard for this entire population for several years and is a hardship for proper health and sanitation.

Even a greater risk is that the water available in these dried-up ponds are contaminated by the waste that is generated by animals in the community, greatly affecting the health of the village. Several villagers drink (dirty) water, due to a lack of education and awareness as to the dangers of doing so.

Project Description
This project is to dig a well and install a manual water pump to provide clean water for the village.

The hand-dug well will be located about 3 km away from the existing well. It will be dug to a depth of 20 to 30 meters. It will be cement-lined to ensure structural integrity and to keep contaminants from entering the well.

Skilled masons from the community will do the work.

Additional labor will be provided by local villagers. As a part of working with the masons, they will learn the techniques of well construction to allow them to create additional wells in the future.

The construction will be accompanied by a program designed to raise community awareness about water and sanitation. Villagers will engage in group discussions with local health volunteers. This will include instruction on affordable methods to treat contaminated water.

It is expected that the water will be potable without treatment, as the well that is currently used is safe. However, testing will be done for arsenic content before the water is consumed, and actions will be taken as necessary.

Project Impact
150 people will benefit from this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Justin Brumer

Comments
The project is an extremely cost-effective way to provide clean drinking water throughout the year for community that is in dire need.

There is great community support and participation. The technology will be imparted upon various members of the community who will be able to use it in the future. The educational component will ensure that people have a better understanding of water and sanitation, thus providing huge health benefits.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$0.00

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW

Donations of any amount will be appreciated.

Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of the Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.

Dollar Amount Needed
$0 – Terminated.

It has been determined that this project is currently not feasible. Therefore it has been terminated. No contributions were received and there has been no expenditure of funds.

Any donations here will be applied to other projects in Cambodia, Laos or Thailand.