Cambodia Clean Water and Toilet Project (CCWTP) Washroom Installation Report 2026.08.31

In Tachan Village near Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a transformation recently took place for Meng, Sreyneang, and their three children. Thanks to the support and funds provided by fellow members of the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers, this family now has their own dedicated Washroom Toilet, marking a meaningful difference in their daily lives.

The process began with a personal consultation to discuss the family's situation. Sreyneang just couldn’t stop smiling as the team mapped out the plans. During these discussions, the location of the toilet was carefully sited to ensure it was placed at least 20 meters away from any bore or well.

Proper design and installation are critical to the Cambodia Clean Water & Toilet Project. Bacterial contamination of bore water is a major problem in village communities when unsealed open pit tanks are installed. To protect the community, the project focuses on providing properly designed and installed septic tank systems to every family in a village, ensuring sewage does not contaminate the groundwater—whether through brand-new washroom toilets or diverting existing toilets to a septic tank system. Beyond essential health and hygiene, these ongoing installations directly and indirectly provide work and income for ten families.

Sanitation evokes the concept of human dignity more than many other human rights issues, especially considering the vulnerability and shame so many experience when forced to defecate in the open. To restore privacy, safety, and dignity, the new structure serves a dual purpose as both a toilet and a washroom. Doubling as a washroom is particularly vital for women, who often lack privacy when washing themselves or their children. The structure was built with longevity in mind, featuring walls and a roof made of Colorbond-style steel sheets, alongside a pre-made steel-framed door.

The construction involved several detailed steps:

• Excavation: The digging was completed manually, followed by positioning the pipes and preparing the brickwork footings.

• Brickwork: Rows of bricks were laid to create a durable "wet area" base suitable for washing.

• Concrete Floor, Rendering, & Water Tank: The concrete floor was poured, the brickwork was rendered, and a dedicated water tank was installed.

To ensure long-term benefits, health and hygiene education is an integral three-phase program paired with every installation. During the official handover, the team provided further education on the "why" of washing hands, reinforcing its critical role in personal hygiene. The family was provided with a supply of soap, a laminated hand-washing handout, and laminated educational posters placed directly on the toilet wall to keep hygiene reinforcement top of mind every day.