In an effort to promote sustainable tourism and reduce plastic waste, five water refill stations have been made available throughout the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia. These stations offer free access to safe drinking water for tourists who bring their own bottles.
The most recent installations, completed in June, are located at key points: the parking lot and ticket checkpoint at Victory Gate, the eastern wall of Angkor Thom city, and the parking area in front of Phnom Bakheng temple. These new stations are part of the second phase of an ongoing initiative led by the APSARA National Authority in collaboration with the German development agency GIZ and Angkor Enterprise.
The initiative builds on the success of the first phase, which saw the installation of two refill stations at Banteay Srei temple. This work is supported under GIZ’s AMUSE (ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management Enhancement) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The AMUSE project operates across Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, with Siem Reap selected as a pilot destination in Cambodia.
The water refill stations highlight both environmental and cultural values. In addition to supporting eco-friendly tourism, they reflect traditional Khmer hospitality, where villagers historically placed water jars outside their homes for travelers.
Each station is equipped with advanced filtration systems that meet national standards for safe drinking water. The systems can produce between 1,000 to 1,500 liters of water per hour. Tourists can scan a QR code at each station to access the latest water quality test results, provided and verified by Water for Cambodia, a local non-profit organization managing water and food testing in the area.
The stations are marked with the sign “Refill Water Here” and are expected to encourage responsible travel while preserving the natural and cultural integrity of the Angkor World Heritage Site.
