Background
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) holds statutory authority to issue and supervise permits for surface-water abstraction under the Law on Water Resources Management. As the sector regulator, MOWRAM evaluates applications against legal requirements and conducts site inspections to verify proposed abstraction points and volumes.
Industrial textile washing and dyeing operations document process-water requirements and routinely include maximum daily abstraction figures measured in cubic meters per day in permit applications to control river withdrawals. Permit decisions link specified abstraction volumes to operational controls and compliance obligations for effluent and resource use.
Scope of Application
This item covers an on-site inspection and administrative review of an industrial water-use application for direct abstraction from the Bassac River in Ta Khmau city, Kandal province. The review process applies to surface-water abstraction requests submitted by factories for production processes, including textile washing and dyeing intended for export.
Key Provisions or Decisions
On 28 July 2026, Deputy Secretary of State Ok Vuthy led a MOWRAM team and provincial water resources officials to inspect a textile washing and dyeing facility in Sangkat Setbou, Ta Khmau, Kandal. The factory reported a requested abstraction volume of 5,000 cubic meters per day from the Bassac River to support its production line.
During the visit, MOWRAM representatives indicated that the factory’s submission was reviewed for conformity with the Law on Water Resources Management and for documentary compliance related to exported products.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Businesses seeking surface-water abstraction for industrial processes should prepare permit applications that specify daily abstraction volumes, demonstrate adherence to water-use law criteria, and include evidence of export-related product legality where applicable. Operators must expect site verification by MOWRAM or provincial water authorities as part of the authorization process.
Official Source
Source: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) Facebook post, 28 July 2026 — MOWRAM Facebook.
