Microbial recontamination associated with household water use practices in a remote riverine island community in Cambodia

Abstract Ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, regardless of living environment, is a central aim of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. However, household water use practices remain underexplored in geographically isolated communities in Cambodia. This exploratory study investigated household water use conditions in a remote island village in Cambodia through water quality analyses, surface swab tests, and field interviews involving 30 households. Bathing water samples were collected from eight households, drinking water samples from nine households, and surface swab tests were conducted on household water-use utensils. Physicochemical parameters of stored river water used for drinking and domestic purposes were generally within national guideline ranges, although some exceptions were observed. E. coli was detected in only a limited number of water samples. In contrast, surface swab tests indicated substantial microbial contamination on plastic drinking cups; some cup swab samples reached “too numerous to count” (TNTC) levels for E. coli , and total coliforms reached TNTC levels in all cup swab samples. These findings suggest that microbial recontamination may occur during household handling, storage, or use of drinking utensils. Interviews revealed limited awareness of safe washing practices and microbial contamination risks. This study provides exploratory evidence that everyday household practices may influence microbial water safety in isolated communities and offers practical insights for advancing SDG 6 in rural Cambodia. Strengthening capacity-building interventions, including training on safe water use and household hygiene management, may help reduce recontamination risks in remote areas.