SBR- Content.pmd - INBO

State of the Basin Report - 2003In the future, as river transportationincreases both in the upper reaches of theriver between China and Thailand, andbetween the mouth of the river and citiesand ports in Viet Nam and Cambodia, spillsof fuel and toxic chemicals could threatendomestic water sources. The impact of aspill would likely be felt for long distancesdownstream. (See Chapter 11 on trade andtransport).In urban areas, where populations areincreasing rapidly due to rural-urbanmigration, authorities are finding itimpossible to keep pace with therequirements for water and sewerage infrastructure. Domestic water supplies, particularly thosesourced from surface water, are increasingly threatened from human, industrial and hospital wastes.In Phnom Penh, for example, a preliminary assessment found a moderate-to-high risks of healthproblems if domestic water was drawn from the Chaktomuk or Tonle Sap Rivers, or the upperreaches of the Bassac. 12 Urban water supplies are also contaminated by deteriorating water systems.3.2.4 Contamination during use and secondary risksContamination during the drawing, transport, handling and storage of water is often not given nearlyenough attention. Whilst water may start out clean, it can be quickly contaminated during use ifgood hygiene is not practised at every stage. In some cases, contamination occurs because peoplelack knowledge about proper hygiene. In others they simply lack sufficient water and soap to washtheir hands.A high frequency of gastro-enteric, worm related and other diseases in the LMB are linked withdomestic water supply and poor sanitation, particularly in rural areas. These diseases exacerbate theeffects of poor nutrition and the ravages of other diseases. Survival rates, quality of life and economicproductivity are all clearly affected. Section 4.6 gives some statistics on typical diseases.There are also some secondary risks. Wild and cultured fish, shrimp and the other aquatic creaturesconsumed as human food in the LMB can all carry faecal bacteria in their gut and on their surfaces,and serve as intermediate hosts for parasites. With so many people dependent on aquatic products astheir major source of protein, increasing contamination of water bodies with sewage could becomea serious problem.3.2.5 Monitoring and managing domestic water quality in the LMBIn all cases, river and other surface water in the LMBrequires treatment to render it safe for drinkingInternational guidelines exist on the recommended limits for pollutants in drinking water. 13 However,important linkages need to be made in the LMB (as is the case elsewhere in the world), between thestandards required for drinking water and those required for other uses such as business and industry,and maintaining ecosystem health.In the LMB, water quality surveillance programmes, particularly those for drinking water sources,are still limited and generally lack sufficient equipment, laboratory facilities, communications andskilled personnel. Among positive trends is the recent development of national drinking waterstandards in Viet Nam and Lao PDR and an ongoing process to do so in Cambodia (Thailand has had252