Reinventing access to water in rural areas:
the water kiosk solution

In Cambodia, access to safe drinking water in rural areas has long been a major challenge. For 20 years, 1001fontaines has been working with its local partner Teuk Saat 1001 to develop sustainable solutions.

Thanks to a network of 343 decentralized water kiosks and a home delivery service, Teuk Saat 1001 now supplies safe drinking water to 1.3 million people.

Water kiosk at Krang Chek in Kampong Spoe province by © Rémi Portier Photographie

 

This model is based on three pillars:

  • guaranteed quality, with monthly tests in 100% of water kiosks,
  • an affordable price, less than 3% of the monthly rural households’ budget,
  • a reduced environmental impact, thanks to refillable 20-liter bottles.

The results are in: in less than 10 years, bottled water has become the second-largest source of safe drinking water in rural areas, rising from 8% of households in 2014 to 24% in 2022.

This success is based on a proven model of local involvement and capacity building.

bottled Water_Infographics.v3

Amandine Chaussinand, Managing Director at Teuk Saat 1001, shares: