Feasibility Assessment of Improving Cheoung Ek Wastewater Treatment Plants for Sustainable Water Management in Urban Phnom Penh = 도시 프놈펜의 지속 가능한 물 관리를 위한 청억 폐수 처리장 개선 타당성 평가

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The capital's challenges with wastewater have increased due to the population growing promptly and Phnom Penh becoming more urbanized rapidly. This has led to substantial amounts of adverse effects on the environment and pollution of the water. This has caused numerous instances of negative impact and reached more effectively to combine the contamination in water systems. The current research investigates the viability of utilizing advanced wastewater treatment technologies (AWWTs) to improve pollutant removal efficiency and foster sustainable, climate-resilient water management in urban Cambodia. The research utilizes secondary data, literature synthesis, and analytical methodologies, including SWOT analysis and a comparative technology matrix, to assess three potential technologies: Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs), Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), and Constructed Wetlands (CWs). The findings demonstrate that MBRs exhibit enhanced effectiveness in the removal of BOD, ammonia, and microplastics, attaining removal efficiencies exceeding 95%. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are highly effective in removing persistent organic pollutants, while constructed wetlands offer a cost-efficient, nature-based solution that provides essential polishing treatment. However, integrating these technologies into existing systems remains challenging due to high implementation costs, limited technical expertise, and the absence of clear regulations on microplastics and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). This report proposes a feasible plan for implementing membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology within the current wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) infrastructure, given that relevant institutions possess the necessary foundational resources. Moreover, additional opportunities for financial support and stakeholder engagement further enhance the viability of this approach. Overall, the study contributes to Cambodia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6 and 13) by providing an evidence-based framework for improved wastewater management, strengthened climate adaptation, and enhanced mitigation efforts in urban areas.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract i
• Table of Contents ii
• List of Tables v
• List of Figures vi
• Chapter 1: Introduction 1
• 1.1 Background 1
• 1.2 Problem Statement 3
• 1.3 Research Objectives 4
• 1.4 Research Questions 4
• 1.5 Scope and Limitations 5
• 1.6 Significance of the Study 5
• 1.7 The Thesis's Structure There are seven chapters in this thesis. 6
• Chapter 2: Literature Review 7
• 2.1 Current Status of Wastewater Management and treatment in Cambodia 7
• 2.2 Law and regulation on wastewater discharge 8
• 2.3 Wastewater treatment in Choeung Ek Sewage Treatment Plant 9
• 2.3.2 The Water Quality Monitoring and Device Performance in Cheung Ek WWTP 11
• 2.4 Overview of Urban Wastewater Challenges in Cambodia 15
• 2.4.1 Overview of UWS in Phnom Penh 15
• 2.5 The Potential of Wastewater Treatment 17
• 2.6 Wastewater treatment process and its impact on the fate of MPs 17
• 2.7 Microplastic Concentrations Along the Mekong River 18
• 2.8 Microplastics Definition and impacts to the Environment and Human 20
• 2.9 Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) 21
• 2.10 Challenges of emerging contaminants in Southeast Asian countries 22
• 2.11 Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies (AWWTs) 24
• 2.11.1 Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) 28
• 2.11.2 Constructed Wetlands 30
• 2.12 Environmental Impact of UWS 32
• 2.13 Source of GHG Emissions in UWS 34
• 2.14 International Best Practices and Case Studies 38
• 2.15 Gap in Current Resarch 38
• Chapter 3: Methodology 40
• 3.1 Description of the Study Area 41
• 3.2 Research Design 42
• 3.3 Literature Review Strategy 42
• 3.4 Water Quality Data Analysis 43
• 3.5 SWOT Analysis 44
• 3.6 Technology Comparison Matrix 45
• 3.7 Tools and Software Used 46
• Chapter 4: Analysis and Results 47
• 4.1 Current Wastewater Quality in Phnom Penh 47
• 4.2 Significance of BOD and Ammonia as Key Parameters 50
• 4.3 Water Quality Monitoring and Device Performance at Cheung Ek WWTP, 2024 51
• 4.4 Performance of Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies 53
• 4.5 SWOT Analysis Results 54
• 4.6 Comparative Matrix of Technologies 58
• 4.6.1 BOD and Ammonia 58
• 4.6.2 Comparative Matrix and Technology Ranking 61
• 4.7 Membrane Bioreactor (MBR): Most Suitable for Microplastic and CEC Removal in Cambodia 71
• 4.7.1 Evidence of inadequate removal performance at Cheung Ek WWTP 73
• 4.7.2 Why failure on BOD & ammonia implies failure on MPs and CECs 73
• 4.7.3 Why MBRs are the appropriate technology to address these gaps 74
• 4.7.4 Practical integration plan (how to retrofit Cheung Ek PTF with MBR) 75
• 4.7.5 Expected performance targets (design & monitoring KPIs) 76
• 4.7.6 Monitoring & verification plan (to demonstrate improvement) 76
• 4.7.7 Costs, constraints, and mitigation 77
• 4.8 Summary 77
• Chapter 5: Recommendations and Strategic Framework 79
• 5.1 Suggestions for Policy and Institutional Frameworks 79
• 5.2 Suggestions for Technology and Operations 80
• 5.3 Financial along with Stakeholder Engagement The application of AWWTs demands considerable financing, that would be implemented via a mixed funding mechanism. 81
• 5.4 Strategic Framework for Execution 82
• Chapter 6: Conclusion 85
• 6.1 Synopsis of Principal Discoveries 85
• 6.2 Contribution to Climate Resilience &Water Management for Sustainability 85
• 6.3 Constraints of the Research 86
• 6.4 Suggestions for Subsequent Research 86
• 6.5 Concluding Observations 86
• References 87
• 국문 초록 92