Rivers used as toilets, dump sites for sewage

Rivers used as toilets, dump sites for sewage

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite the city administration's clean river program (prokasih),
launched in the early 1990s, major rivers in the capital are
still used as a dump site for various wastes including untreated
sewerage.

Most people living along the riversides have their toilets
linked directly to the rivers by pipes. While other residents of
the city use septic tank disposal services that later dump the
waste directly into the rivers.

Baji, 49, a resident of the Semanan subdistrict in West
Jakarta, said nearly all squatters living on the banks of
tributary of the Cisadane river dumped human waste into the
river, which is located along Jl. Daan Mogot.

"It's common here. No one has asked us not to dump the waste
into the river," Baji said innocently on Friday. He added that
all of his 10 small houses, which are rented mostly to textile
firm workers in the area, have their toilets directly linked to
the rivers.

A similar practice could also be found in Rawa Buaya
subdistrict along the same Cisadane tributary in West Jakarta,
and in a number subdistricts along the Ciliwung river, including
Manggarai Selatan and Manggarai Utara in South Jakarta, as well
as Kebon Manggis and Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta.

Unlike in Semanan and Rawa Buaya subdistricts in West Jakarta,
many toilets were seen along the Ciliwung river in Manggarai
Selatan, Manggarai Utara, Kebon Manggis and Kampung Melayu.

"Apart from dumping the untreated sewerage into the rivers,
the people also wash their clothes and other things such as
vegetables there," said Rudi, a resident of Manggarai Selatan.

In Rawa Buaya, there are a number of public toilets built by
the city administration's tap water company PT PAM Jaya, which
also dumps the waste in the rivers.

"The public toilets are provided with tanks, which are
connected by pipes to the river," said Cep Hasyim, a resident of
Rawa Buaya, who runs the public toilets.

Sahadi, another resident of Semanan, said that after removing
the waste from the septic tanks, the waste disposal services dump
them directly into the Cisadane tributaries. He added that the
waste spread an unpleasant odor in the surrounding neighborhood.

"Usually, they dump the waste at night. Once some youths tried
to catch them, but they failed," he said, blaming the city
administration for the incident.

Deputy head of the city sanitation agency, Rama Boedi, denied
such a practice. "It is impossible that they still dump the waste
in the rivers. But if people really discover that such a practice
has occurred, they should report to us. We will revoke their
licenses," Rama told The Jakarta Post.

But, Rama said that his agency was powerless to control the
dumping of human waste by squatters and other residents into the
rivers, despite the fact that it would be detrimental to the
health of residents there.

The waste spread E coli bacteria in the river water that can
in turn can penetrate people's potable water supply, especially
ground water pumped from wells. The E coli bacteria can cause
diarrhea, which can be fatal.

Baji admitted that diarrhea was common in his area,
particularly affecting children. But he was not aware that it was
caused by E coli bacteria due to the poor sanitation in the
neighborhood.

In view of such a situation, the city administration announced
recently that it would cooperate with Global Grid of New South
Wales, Australia, to manage human waste as part of its efforts to
curb the spread of E coli bacteria.

The Australian company will invest some Rp 50 trillion (around
US$5.36 billion) in the project whose Memorandum of
Implementation agreement will be signed in June.