Background
Cambodia’s water infrastructure system includes dams, reservoirs, canals, and hydrological monitoring equipment used to support irrigation, water storage, and flood management. Irrigation infrastructure is directly linked to agricultural production because stored and regulated water allows cultivation in both wet and dry seasons.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology is the government institution responsible for water resources management, irrigation works, and meteorological services in Cambodia. Reservoir measurement systems for water level and flow are part of operational governance because they provide the technical data needed for storage management, irrigation release planning, and infrastructure oversight.
In Battambang province, large reservoir projects are relevant to both rural livelihoods and local water security because they can serve multiple districts and agricultural areas. Post-construction inspections are part of infrastructure administration, especially where ministries need to verify site conditions, supporting facilities, and compliance with technical standards after completion.
Key Developments
On 3 April 2026, Choun Bithol, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, led a working group to inspect the current status of the Don Tri dam development project in Rukh Kiri district, Battambang province, after the completion of a five-month post-project period. He attended as a representative of the Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology.
During the inspection, the ministry reviewed site conditions and provided guidance to the construction company’s representatives. The instructions included arranging a community building, setting up a market area, displaying photographs, and planting ornamental trees around the community building area.
The Under Secretary of State also instructed provincial water resources and meteorology officials to continue checking equipment used to measure water level and water flow so that it remains accurate and consistent with the ministry’s technical standards. Additional guidance covered site order, sanitation, and environmental maintenance around the dam area.
According to the ministry, the Don Tri dam development project was permanently completed in October 2025 after 89 months of construction. MOWRAM described the project as strategic infrastructure for water security, clean water supply, and flood reduction.
The dam has storage capacity of about 163.1 million cubic metres. It is designed to irrigate 33,000 hectares in the rainy season and 4,500 hectares in the dry season across Rukh Kiri, Moung Ruessei, and Koas Krala districts in Battambang province.
As of 3 April 2026, the water level in the reservoir had reached 78.05 metres, equivalent to about 58.7 million cubic metres of stored water.
Implications
The inspection indicates that MOWRAM is moving from construction completion to operational oversight of the Don Tri dam. This shift matters for long-term infrastructure performance because reservoir management depends not only on physical works but also on accurate monitoring systems, routine maintenance, and administrative supervision.
For agriculture in Battambang, the project’s stated irrigation coverage suggests continued relevance for seasonal water supply planning in multiple districts. The ministry’s emphasis on measurement equipment and technical standards also points to the role of data-based water management in reservoir operations, flood control, and irrigation distribution.
Official Source
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM), Facebook post published on 3 April 2026: Official source.
