Sewage company proposes new modular system
Urip Hudiono, Jakarta
This is the second in a series of three articles on the environmental problems caused by untreated sewage in the capital, particularly the waterway and marine pollution it causes.
Acknowledging Jakarta's urgent need for a better sewage system, yet also realizing the difficulties in implementing a centralized system, city-owned sewage company PD PAL Jaya is proposing that Jakarta adopt a modular sewage system instead.
It is also proposing an upgrade for septic tanks in areas where installing sewage pipes would not be possible.
PAL Jaya director Pudjo Prihadi Santoso said a modular system would collect waste water from densely populated areas into large, industrial treatment plants similar to the one in Setiabudi, South Jakarta.
"Preliminary financial studies of the system have also found it to be more feasible," he told The Jakarta Post recently.
Under the proposed modular system, Jakarta will be divided into 38 modular areas, which would each be served by a local sewage pipeline network and a small-scale treatment plant.
He added that a comprehensive map would be drawn up next year with the City Development Planning Board.
PAL Jaya data shows that a plant with a processing capacity of 3 liters of raw sewage per second could cost up to Rp 1 billion (US$106,382).
In regards the upgrading of septic tanks -- mostly used in residential areas -- Pudjo explained that it was important to prevent further contamination of the city's groundwater and waterways in areas unreachable by sewage pipes.
"Most septic tanks can only treat human waste, while waste water from bathing and washing are simply flushed into the city's drainage system," he said. "A modified septic tank would be able to treat all kinds of sewage properly."
PAL Jaya has been mulling a possible cooperation with Malaysian company Pembinaan Jayabumi to supply the modified septic tanks, which come with scum filters and a medium to cultivate waste-decomposing bacteria.
Pudjo explained that residents could purchase the Rp 4 million (US$425) septic tank through monthly installments of Rp 60,000 over 10 years.
"If the city administration decides to subsidize the program, the installments could even be reduced to Rp 33,000," he said.
Pudjo suggested that all sewage matters be handled by PAL Jaya in the future and monitored by the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency. Currently, the City Sanitation Agency provides sewage trucks and treatment plants to serve those areas where PAL Jaya's pipeline networks are unavailable.
However, PAL Jaya plans to expand its existing network to cover additional areas where possible.
Six service expansion areas have initially been determined by PAL Jaya that would serve a total of 19,740 hectares. PAL Jaya's Setiabudi plant currently serves only 560 hectares, or 0.85 percent of Jakarta.
"All in all, what we need are better regulations and coordination between city agencies to support the proposed sewage system," Pudjo remarked.
Present regulations on waste management includes Gubernatorial Decree No. 45/1992 that obligates all building owners to use PAL Jaya services in areas where its sewage pipes are available, and Gubernatorial Decree No. 2379/2003, which specifies PAL Jaya's service charges.
I-BOX
Planned sewage pipeline expansion
No. Zone Coverage Area (ha)
1 Central Setiabudi, S. Jkt - Pluit, N. Jkt 10,000 2 Northwest W. Flood Canal - Jl. Sudirman 1,330 3 Southwest Jl. Warung Buncit Raya - Jl. Sudirman 2,170 4 Northeast Jl. Bekasi Timur Raya - Jl. Kramat Raya 3,500 5 Southeast Ciliwung River - Sunter River (S. Jkt) 1,240 6 Tanjung Tanjung Priok, N. Jkt 1,500
Priok