Makassar\u2019s Losari Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is the largest\nsanitation facility in eastern Indonesia and received construction\nfunding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).<\/p>\n
Construction began in 2019, and the facility was inaugurated by\nPresident Joko Widodo in 2024. It is connected to 14,000 sanitation\nnetworks and can process 1,200 cubic metres of wastewater into clean\nwater each day.<\/p>\n
The Rp1.2 trillion project received around Rp672 billion in ADB loan\nfunding. It has the capacity to treat wastewater from four districts in\nMakassar, with a design capacity of 16,000 cubic metres per day.<\/p>\n
During a review of the project on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, ADB\nCountry Director for Indonesia Bobur Alimov said the plant\u2019s installed\ncapacity left considerable scope to expand wastewater management for\nnearby residents, as it currently treats only 1,200 cubic metres a\nday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plant is not yet operating at full capacity. If we add more\nconnections, there is very significant potential for further expansion,\u201d\nBobur said.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia\u2019s growing cities and rising populations needed\nsanitation facilities capable of keeping pace with increasing volumes of\nwastewater. Without such facilities, public health and the environment\nwould also be affected.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestment in sanitation is not just about infrastructure; it is\nalso about public health, environmental protection and making cities\nmore liveable,\u201d Bobur said.<\/p>\n
He added that the ADB, as a development partner to Indonesia, would\ncontinue to support the development of wastewater treatment\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope every city in Indonesia will have this kind of facility, and\nthat we will no longer see wastewater [polluting the environment]. Our\nplanet has a remarkable ability to recover by itself, so we need to help\nthat recovery process and stop polluting the environment further,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Losari WWTP is part of the ADB\u2019s Metropolitan Sanitation\nManagement Investment Programme (MSMIP). In addition to Makassar, the\nsanitation facilities programme covers Jambi and Pekanbaru, with total\ncosts equivalent to US$301.81 million.<\/p>\n
Of the total project cost, the ADB provided US$79.36 million.\nCo-financing included US$35.45 million from the ASEAN Infrastructure\nFund and a US$47.65 million grant from the Australian Government. The\nIndonesian Government contributed US$139.35 million.<\/p>\n
The project responds to low levels of urban wastewater disposal by\nexpanding access to safe wastewater collection and treatment services,\nwhile strengthening institutional capacity for long-term operations and\nmaintenance.<\/p>\n
Three wastewater treatment plants in Jambi, Makassar and Pekanbaru,\nwith a combined design capacity of 31.7 megalitres a day, are now\noperating, alongside 159.4 kilometres of installed sewerage network.<\/p>\n
As connections are expanded from the current 1,475 households and 147\ncommercial properties, the system is expected to serve more than 34,000\nhouseholds and 10,400 commercial properties.<\/p>\n
The project prioritises low-income households and women-headed\nhouseholds by providing access to subsidised tariffs and free\nconnections for domestic wastewater disposal.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/inside-the-easts-largest-wastewater-to-clean-water-treatment-plant-1792637425", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }