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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Sanitation in Indonesia

5. 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

6. 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 ?”

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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