Sewerage and Sanitation Policies in Indonesia Caroline van den Berg Water and Sanitation Program

Government of Indonesia Policy GOI Policy: Sanitation is primarily a private responsibility, while sewerage is considered a public responsibility Government Investment Policy of the Past Government investment in environmental sanitation has been negligible Supply-driven government investments Impact: Low “coverage” Low quality of existing sewerage and sanitation services

Sector Status Access to sanitation - ????? the numbers ???? about 50 million people use septic tanks for final disposal of wastewater, BUT ………. at least, but likely much more, than 30 million people are disposing their wastewater without any treatment The high social cost of inadequate sanitation But: large regional differences large socio-economic differences

Sanitation in Indonesia

Sewerage in Indonesia Urban sewerage network is almost non-existent Less than 1 million people have access to sewerage Currently, only sewerage systems in 7 cities in Indonesia

Sewerage in Indonesia Traditional sewerage programs have been unsuccessful too much focus on physical targets too little focus as to understand the demand for sewerage services Community-based sewerage programs (such as Malang) lessons learned from these schemes demand for sewerage is existing, but takes time to generate role of community participation importance of access to information “why not scaling up these approaches ?”

Lessons Learned in Indonesia An exclusive “civil works” approach does not work: sanitation is not a mere technical problem Demand for sanitation services exists the extent of private investment in sanitation little understanding of demand, and its variations among different groups provision of sanitation services does not by definition result in the full economic and health benefits of the service (the experience with MCK)

Lessons Learned in Indonesia Demand Responsive Approaches are indispensable to successful sanitation delivery need to invest resources and time in understanding local demand no “one size fits all” approach Community based approaches are very effective in mobilizing private resources and changing behaviors Water and sanitation are not “similar” services: different services with different timeframes

Urban Sanitation Policy Context Implications of Decentralization and Fiscal Devolution potential for Demand Responsive Approaches (DRA) may increase over time differences in local government capacity in terms of financial and human resources capacity

Principles of Urban Sanitation Policy Objective of sanitation and sewerage improvements should focus on the sustainability and effective use of these services, while including equity considerations The importance of demand responsive approaches, based on informed choices that take into account their willingness to pay for such services

Elements of Urban Sanitation Policy (1) Planning Rules sustainable sanitation services is part of sustainable water resources management involvement of stakeholders in the planning of sanitation services need for standards and norms regarding wastewater discharge and water quality standards and norms should focus on performance instead of design standards “realistic” standards

Elements of Urban Sanitation Policy (2) Rules on Management and Implementation management of sanitation services should occur at the lowest appropriate level roles for different stakeholders Example: role of central government setting up broad national policies and enforcing the rules that pertain to these policies facilitation (providing information on e.g. technologies and training) performance monitoring

Elements of Urban Sanitation Policy (3) Rules on Technology Choices information on technological options is important to ensure that informed choices can be made service/product differentiation technology choices should be guided by performance instead of design standards

Elements of Urban Sanitation Policy (4) Financing Rules differentiation between collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater due to the combination of public and private good qualities of sanitation improvements, determination of financial rules is going to be complex

Elements of Urban Sanitation Policy (5) Rules on Access to Service by the Poor provision of a wide range of technical options that can be upgraded provision of flexible financing options installment payments for capital costs community contributions collection of tariffs on neighborhood levels to ensure local financing and cross subsidy arrangements targeting the timing, type and level of subsidies

Policy reform is badly needed, that includes Conclusions Policy reform is badly needed, that includes the use of demand responsive approaches the importance of “informed choice” the importance of translating access to sanitation services in effective and sustainable use the establishment of proper incentives the assignment of responsibilities between the different stakeholders the context in which effective and efficient sanitation and sewerage services can be delivered