PHNOM PENH – Six hundred low-income households in flood-prone areas around Tonle Sap Lake and in remote communities now have year-round access to affordable, climate-resilient latrines built above the high-water line for the first time.

Recognizing the lack of adequate sanitation and the seasonal flooding along the lake, the non-profit organization iDE Cambodia has introduced the so-called Sky Latrines, designed for seasonally flooded environments.

Communities in Siem Reap, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Kampong Thom where many of whom experience seasonal flooding for four to six months annually, can now buy the latrines within a modest household budget.

Tyler Kozole, director of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program at iDE Cambodia, said the latrines help protect public health while providing privacy, comfort and personal safety.

“Those with mobility challenges such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and children who have a latrine at home can avoid navigating difficult, often flooded terrain to relieve themselves outdoors,” Kozole said.

Chhou Em, 65, a resident of Kampong Khlaing commune in Siem Reap who lost her eyesight two years ago, said the latrine will make life more convenient, as she no longer needs to ask her grandchildren or someone else to accompany her to the forest. 

By working closely with local entrepreneurs, communities, and authorities, Kozole said iDE Cambodia is helping the country transition from “basic” to “safely managed” sanitation services while protecting community health. 

Waste from the toilets is stored in pits which are recommended to be built in the dry season. Waste can be stored in the pit throughout the year. The toilet remains usable even when surrounding areas are submerged due to its plumbing vent pipe.

iDE has identified fecal sludge management as a critical challenge for communities, as many households and service providers resort to unsafe waste disposal, often discharging untreated waste into the surrounding environment.

To address this issue, the organization has introduced two solutions including the Alternating Dual Pit (ADP) system and an on-site latrine pit emptying service.

The ADP system adds a second pit. When one pit becomes full, it is treated with lime and sealed, allowing the waste to decompose safely over two to five years, while the second pit is used. This minimizes the environmental impact and health risks.

In addition to improving access to sanitation, the latrines help reduce open defecation and prevent contamination of water sources caused by improper sanitation practices.

The organization empowers local entrepreneurs to produce and deliver climate-resilient toilets and strengthens local governance by building the capacity of local authorities, referred to as “sanitation champions,” to lead and sustain sanitation improvements.

To enable the most climate and socioeconomically vulnerable households to own a toilet, iDE has also developed and implemented a targeted subsidy mechanism to make these products more affordable. 

Active in Cambodia since 1994, iDE focuses on agriculture, climate resilience, food security and nutrition and WASH.

Since 2009, iDE Cambodia has delivered more than 412,000 latrines to rural households, offering multiple designs tailored to local geography and economic conditions. In areas where iDE has worked, rural access to improved basic sanitation has increased from just 23 percent in 2009 to nearly 90 percent in 2024.