Every day, many rural families in Lao PDR rely on rivers, streams, and groundwater wells for drinking, cooking, farming, and other household needs. However, changes in these water sources are not always visible. Water that looks clear may still be contaminated and unsafe to use, while droughts, floods and other environmental pressures can affect both its availability and quality. Without regular monitoring, communities may not have the information they need to recognize these changes early and respond to potential risks.

Across 15 villages in Savannakhet Province, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is helping communities respond to these challenges through the Integrated Water Resources Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation project. As part of the project, villagers learn to use monitoring equipment and track records to track changes in water sources in their communities through the Community-based Monitoring (CBM) programme, allowing them to make independent, informed decisions as risks arise. 

Ms Noy, who is a community committee member and a CBM participant, explains:

“Before, we relied mainly on what we could see and what we knew from experience, whether the river was rising or water was becoming scarce. Now, we monitor and record these changes and combine our observations with the results calculated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). This helps us discuss the risks with the village chief and decide together how to prepare for floods or droughts.”  
 

What is Community-based Monitoring (CBM)?  

CBM is a participatory monitoring system in which local communities systematically collect, record, and report data on environmental conditions, natural resources, climate-related risks, and project interventions. It turns local observations into information that communities and authorities analyze and use to make informed decisions on water use and risk preparedness. Across the 15 target villages, volunteer groups including women, men, young people and village authorities have learned how to monitor changes in their water sources and surrounding ecosystems.

Using water-level gauges, thermometers, measuring tapes, pH tests, and basic water-quality kits, volunteers regularly take and record measurements from rivers, groundwater wells, and drinking water sources to identify changes that may not be visible through observation alone. Community volunteers provide data through a mobile application (IWRM Monitoring System) that shares collected data with the relevant technical team and central authorities to consolidate, analyze, and report on water-testing conditions. 

Women are often directly involved in using and managing household water for sanitation, food preparation, and family health. These everyday responsibilities give them practical knowledge that is directly relevant to community-based monitoring. Through CBM, women are actively participating in data collection, interpretation of monitoring results, and discussions on appropriate solutions with village leaders. Their voices are increasingly contributing to decisions that affect the health and well-being of their communities, while young people are gaining environmental knowledge and practical monitoring skills that can strengthen the future stewardship of local natural resources.  

For many participants, this was the first time they had seen scientific evidence about the water they use every day.

"Before the training, we only knew whether the water looked clean or dirty," recalled one community volunteer. "Now we know how to measure water quality and understand what the results mean. We can identify changes early and work together to protect our water sources."

Through CBM, communities are not simply beneficiaries but active partners in generating knowledge and protecting the environment and livelihoods on which they depend. While the monitoring tool cannot prevent a flood or end a drought, it turns daily observations into recorded evidence, giving communities a stronger basis for identifying risks, discussing vulnerable areas, and preparing appropriate action. 

In Savannakhet, monitoring is becoming more than a data collection exercise. It is strengthening local ownership, helping communities better understand changes in their environment, make informed decisions, and prepare for challenges. By investing in local capacity and empowering communities to monitor and protect their own water resources, CBM is helping communities move from observation to action, supporting more informed planning, risk preparedness, and the sustainable management of water resources.

Author: Phouphet Chinttaphone