Paljaya Refutes Claims That Septic Tanks Will Not Overflow Without Regular Desludging

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Regional Public Company for Wastewater Management (Paljaya) has refuted the assumption that septic tanks will not overflow if they are not regularly emptied.

“The stigma that a septic tank that has been in use for decades will not overflow, or that it is fine not to empty it, is completely wrong,” said the President Director of Perumda Paljaya, Untung Suryadi, during the ‘Wednesday Learning Podcast’ themed ‘Wastewater Management in DKI Jakarta’ on Wednesday.

Septic tanks serve as a solution to prevent the transmission of diseases caused by faecal coliform bacteria. Faecal matter is a source of disease containing tens of billions of microbes.

Therefore, Untung added, septic tanks need to be emptied at least once every three years to prevent environmental pollution.

Septic tanks that are not emptied for long periods will leak because the incoming sludge no longer settles or undergoes sedimentation within the tank, but instead flows directly out, thereby contaminating surrounding water sources such as groundwater, water bodies, and drainage channels.

“If you are still using groundwater, it will certainly be contaminated. As for claims that there are substances or factors that make it unnecessary to empty them, that is non-existent. It is mandatory to empty them at least once every three years,” said Untung.

The sludge collected from septic tank emptying is transported to official Government Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants (IPLT). Currently, there are two IPLTs in DKI Jakarta, located in Pulo Gebang, Cakung, East Jakarta, and Duri Kosambi, Cengkareng, West Jakarta.

“We process approximately 1,800 cubic metres per day,” said Untung.