Public toilets invaluable to locals<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Some 1,500 Cerewed villagers in a slum area of Cikupa district,
\nTangerang regency, likely never could have imagined that a public
\nbathroom would be so invaluable, not only a place with sanitary
\ntoilets, but a source of free cooking gas and inexpensive water.<\/p>\n
A bit of nifty intermediate technology in the septic tanks can
\npipe the naturally occurring methane gas directly to neighborhood
\nkitchens.<\/p>\n
The system was donated to the villagers by a German non-
\ngovernmental organization (NGO) Bremen Overseas Research and
\nDevelopment Association (Borda).<\/p>\n
In cooperation with local NGO Bina Ekonomi Sosial Terpadu
\n(Best), Borda completed on Wednesday the construction of the
\npublic bathroom in the village, which consists of six toilets and
\nseven bathing areas.<\/p>\n
The methane gas produced from the \"MCK++\" (MCK is the local
\nterm for public bathroom) is free but homeowners must live nearby
\nand get some equipment.<\/p>\n
\"Residents who wish to use this free fuel just need to have a
\ngas stove and install the necessary pipes...but the gas can only
\nbe piped to houses less than 100 meters from the septic tank
\nbecause the gas pressure is not strong enough to reach outside of
\nthat range,\" Best director Hamzah Harun Al Rasyid said in the
\nlaunch of MCK++, which was also attended by Tangerang deputy
\nregent Norodom Sukarno on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
But, will the methane gas stink?<\/p>\n
\"No, the sewage treatment turns the gas into fuel and no
\nlonger fouls the air. Therefore, no need to worry that the food
\nthey cook will smell,\" Hamzah assured.<\/p>\n
Norodom Sukarno said that the MCK++, which cost Rp 200 million
\n(US$23,529), was entirely financed by German government via
\nBorda.<\/p>\n
The residents do pay for the use of the public bathroom: Rp
\n200 for the toilet and Rp 300 for bathing, in addition to Rp 300
\nfor every 20 liters of water the residents take from the MCK++,
\nwhich has several water taps connected to a water pump.<\/p>\n
\"Because it is the residents themselves who manage the MCK++,
\nthe money will be used to pay for the MCK++ maintenance fees and
\nelectricity bills, while some of the money will be used to fund
\nthe residents' social activities,\" said Norodom.<\/p>\n
He said the regency would continue to cooperate with Best and
\nBorda so they could donate more of the unique public toilets in
\nother slum areas.<\/p>\n
\"This technology is very useful and I will propose a special
\nbudget for the project,\" he added, however it was not clear what
\nthe government would be paying for as everything is paid for by
\nGerman taxpayers.<\/p>\n
Cikupa district chief Soma Atmadja said all villages in his
\njurisdiction were suffering from a water scarcity \"because each
\nof some 300 factories around the area suck out most of the ground
\nwater in great amounts\".<\/p>\n
\"That is the main reason why the MCk++ was first built in this
\nvillage,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asmah, 56, a housewife, said that it was very helpful for the
\nresidents because earlier they had to buy water from vendors at
\nRp 1,000 for 20 liters.<\/p>\n
\"Now we can save more than two-thirds for water. Moreover, we
\ncan also use the methane gas for free to replace expensive
\nkerosene,\" the mother of six said with a big smile.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-toilets-invaluable-to-locals-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}