A home-grown Cambodian company is taking its water technology to where it needs the most.

Water Environment Venture Co., Ltd (WE Venture) has developed an end-to-end project that includes the installation of small water kiosks run by local entrepreneurs using a social business model and low cost technology.

Thanks to the company. Now villages suffering from water scarcity can have access to safe drinking water at an affordable price.

“WE Venture initiatives in both rural and an urban context will provide access to piped treated water services and wastewater treatment facilities."

“Our work improves the environmental health by reducing pathways for disease transmission, especially with regards to stunting in children, and reduces both untreated human waste and wastewater,” Lo Chay, WE Venture’s executive chairman told The Post.

According to the National Strategy for Rural Water Supply (2011-2025), only around 50 per cent of Cambodians – about 7.5 million – have access to safe drinking water.

The government has ambitious plans to ensure the entire Kingdom has clean water supply by 2025.

“Access to piped treated water is highly sought after by all Cambodians. Surveys consistently indicate strong demand for piped treated water supply across different segments of society."

“This business initiative is in line with the [government’s] policy and strategy. Thus, the market opportunities are huge,” he added.

WE Venture is a 100 per cent Cambodian owned company and established in 2017 by a group of experienced people from different fields to promote clean water supply in rural areas.

In 2019 the company started its piped water supply network in Battambang province, and now plans to set up three new sites in Banteay Mean Chey province. The kiosks refer to small water treatment plant, or small pipe water treatment plant.

It takes about seven to eight months to build a kiosk and each unit costs around from $200,000 to $250,000.

To achieve its goal, the company plans to set up six water stations in the next four years.

“The business initiative will target people in rural areas of Cambodia. Moreover, it will be inclusive of low income people (those who earn $8 or less per day). The initiative will target locations where villagers have no access to piped treated water and where normal private investors would not invest due to a huge investments with a low return on investments,” said Chay.

WE Venture works with water and energy operators, development partner, banks, private companies, and government to bring more clean, safe, affordable and convenience water and energy to Cambodian people. Using local expertise, the company also invest in clean energy such as solar energy and also provides solution to waste water problems.