Cleaner, Safer Water in Cambodia

In Cambodia, untreated water and poor sanitation cause an estimated 10 million cases of diarrhea and 10,000 deaths each year, mostly in children living in rural areas. To date, social enterprise Hydrologic has reached nearly two million Cambodians with its ceramic water purifiers. With a filter in their homes, families can drink safely. By no longer needing to boil water, indoor air pollution from wood burning is reduced, household fuel costs are slashed, time is saved for women and children, and Cambodia’s vulnerable forests are protected.

The project creates rural employment opportunities in filter manufacturing and distribution. Women make up 47% of Hydrologic’s staff, including 60% of top-level managers and 60% of the rural sales force. Hydrologic also works with a microfinance institution to sell filters on credit, making them affordable for more Cambodians.

The sale of Gold Standard carbon credits enables Hydrologic to continue researching and developing purifier technology and to train local producers and distributors, thus scaling up its positive impact.

Awards

• National Energy Globe Award (2013)
• Ashden Award (2012)
• GIZ IMPACT Business Award (2011)

Project Impacts and Benefits

• 90,000 tonnes of CO2e saved per year (equivalent to taking 36,000 cars off the road)
• 600,000+ Filters distributed to date providing clean water to nearly two million Cambodians
• 74% of those who previously boiled water report less exposure to smoke

For every 1000 carbon credits purchased:

• $30,000 savings by households on fuel purchase and collection*
• 5 hectares of Cambodia’s forest protected*
• 34 fewer cases of acute lower respiratory illness*