Cambodia's nine-town water project copied Phnom Penh's model; IED rated it Successful

By the 2000s, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) had turned itself into a global model utility, but Cambodia's provincial towns lagged far behind: access ranged from about 12% in Siem Reap to about 64% in Pursat, and non-revenue water (NRW) ran as high as 40% or more, draining revenue through leaks and theft.

In December 2014, ADB signed a $34 million loan for the Urban Water Supply Project covering Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Pursat, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, Stoung, Stung Treng and Svay Rieng — new water supply systems, a new distribution zone in Siem Reap, a new system in Stung Treng, and rehabilitation of existing treatment plants and pipelines.

The design went beyond pipes: it corporatized the provincial waterworks and granted them autonomy and NRW-management departments on the model of PPWSA and the Siem Reap Water Supply Authority, targeting NRW reduction from over 40% to under 15% and piped supply for about 58,000 additional residents.

ADB's Independent Evaluation Department validated the completion report on 31 July 2024 with an overall assessment of Successful — evidence that replicating a proven utility operating model, not just installing hardware, is what carries reform to small towns.