An Overview of Septage Management in Asia –Challenges and Opportunities

Pham Ngoc Bao, Ph.DSenior Water and Sanitation Specialist
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Email: ngoc-bao@iges.or.jp

Background-The Asia-Pacific region, with over 4.6 billion people by 2016, is the home of nearly

60% of the world population.
-Rapid population growth, urbanization, industrialization and changes in consumption
patterns, including shifting diets toward highly water-intensive foods such as meats, whichhave led to a significant increase in water demand, and placed a hugeburden on water infrastructures in the region.
-It is estimated that from 80% to 90% of generated wastewater, especially indeveloping countries within the region, is discharged directly into water bodies

without any treatment or only partially treated by simple on-site sanitation
systems such as septic tanks, causing substantial levels of contamination in ground andsurface water sources, as well as coastal ecosystems, and placing a huge economic impact.

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- 58% of urbanhouseholds equipped withseptic tanks- 1% of urban households-- 18% of households

equipped with septic tanks.
74% of urban population
access to sewer network-

equipped with onsite
systems (eg. Johkasou)
78% of households
connect to sewer network(Nationwide)- 3% of- 34% of urbanhouseholds equipped withseptic tanks-- 88% of urban- 20% of urbanhouseholds equipped withseptic tanks

households equipped withseptic tanks
56 % of urban households
equipped with other simple
latrines--4%

Onlyof septage issafely disposed or treated- 72% of urban- 83% of urban-households equipped withseptic tanks

households equipped withseptic tanks
It is estimated that 70% ofcollected septage isdisposed of inenvironment- 44% of urban-- 10% of septage ishouseholds equipped withseptic tanks

safely disposed or treated(mainly in Metro Manila)- 63% of urban- 10% of urbanhouseholds equipped withseptic tanks
71% of urban households
equipped with othersimple latrines and only
10% access to sewer
network

households
equipped withlatrines
97% of households
connect to sewer
network(Nationwide)households equipped withseptic tanks- 39% of urbanhouseholds equipped withseptic tanks(Source: WHO and UNICEF, 2017; and database from WEPA website)- 4% of septage is safely
disposed or treated33Common Challenges and Impacts of Poor
Septage Management in Asia
- Predominance of septic tanks with its poor performance/maintainance aseffective onsite wastewater treatment system, but considered as diffuse
sources of pollution in many urban areas.
- Lack of proper septage management, including ineffective emptying,collection & transport, treatment and disposal system.

Fig. 1. Discharge of collected septage at “dumping points” in Bandung; and effluent
from septage treatment plant in Denpasar, Indonesia(Source: Author)
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. Negative impacts on surface and groundwater quality
INDONESIA(Source: Budi, 2015)- Huge economic costs due to poor sanitation

A study from the World Bank in the East Asia and Pacific region—Indonesia, Philippinesand Vietnam, showed that the previously described situation has caused huge socioeconomic, ecological and environmental negative impacts in the studied countries,
including Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, with a total cost of US$8.5 billion. The
breakdown of this cost includes Vietnam—US$780 million, or 1.3 percent of GDP;
Philippines— US$1.4 billion, or 1.5 percent of GDP; and Indonesia—US$6.3 billion, or 2.3
percent of the GDP (World Bank, 2013)55

SDG 6
From MDGs to SDGs –Addressing unfinished business

Water andsanitation in theSDGs

Updated JMP ladders for drinking water andsanitation and a new ladder for hygiene

77Big Gaps between “Science - Reality”

Science seems to be clear…but Reality & Future is NOT
5m3 truck load of FS
dumping  5,000 pe.
practicing open
defecation

VietnamMore than 150 STP have been
constructed, but only less than 10% arestill under operational…because ofLACK OF APPROPRIATETECHNOLOGIES???….NO

Bandung- Indonesia

Septage management requires an integrated system level approach, considering theoverall sanitation service chain and incorporating all relevant aspects (including
technological, legal and institutional framework, financial, etc.), and especially there arestrong needs for appropriate business models for septage management in the region
88Costs of Extending WASH Access under SDGs (2016–30)
Compared with MDGs (2000–15), (World Bank, 2017)99Actual Case Study in Indonesia – Business Models for Septage
Management in Urban Areas
Identification ofNeeds and Research
Gaps
Literature Reviewand Consultation
with Local Experts
Identification of
Research Objectives
and Scopes

Finalization of
Proposal andFindings

Proposed
Methodologies
Mapping ofinstitutional actorsregulatory framework

Householdinterviews andquestionnaire surv.

Faecal sludge
sampling

Economic andfinancial analysis

Interviewing andquestionnaire survey-Observation andevaluation ofservice perform.

Laboratory analysis

Investigation ofexisting businessmodelAnalysis ofinstitutional aspects

Focus Group
Discussion atCommunities

Analysis of technicaland technologicalaspects

Discussion on
alternative businessmodelsFindings will beshared anddiscussed at theStakeholder
Consultation
Meeting for
Septage
Management in
the Studied Cities

1010

UNIVERSAL ACCESS IN INDONESIA BY 2019
SANITATION TARGETS(2010 - 2014)

SANITATION TARGETS(2015 – 2019)

Open Defecation Free (ODF)- 10% off-site sanitation(through 5% City-wide
sewerage system and 5%
DEWATS)- 90% on-site sanitationUNIVERSAL ACCESS 100 - 0 – 100- 100% safe drinking water- 0% slums- 100% improved sanitation, including
faecal sludge management.
National Medium-Term Development
Plan 2015-2019
 Off-site sanitation (centralizedand decentralized seweragesystems): 15%.
 The remaining 85% of household
replying on on-site sanitation andfaecal sludge treatment
1111

Meeting at the Ministry of
Public Work

Visit Bojongsoang WWTP

Meeting at the PDAM Bandung

Meeting with Bandung
Depart. of Public Work

Septage dumping point
Focus Group Discussion

Septage collection pointat household
Collected septage fromhouseholds

Meeting at the ITB

Visit Bojongsoang WWTP

Meeting withEnvironmental Pollution
Control Section of WestJava Province
Environmental Protection
Agency/ and Bandung
City Environmental
Protection Agency

Questionnaire survey athouseholds

Meeting with Local Planning andDevelopment Unit/ Cleaning andLandscaping Agency/Public Works
Department/Health
Department/Environmental
Services Agency of Denpasar City

1212Institutional Framework for SeptageManagement (Theoretically)

Schematic representation of different organisational arrangements for distribution of operational responsibilities
among stakeholders (one block represents one stakeholder).
(Source: Bassan, 2016)1313

Institutional Framework for SeptageManagement (Actually)1414

SeptageSamplings and Laboratory Analysis at ITB

No1ParameterTechniqueMethod
APHA 5210B, Measurements of oxygen consumed in a 5-day
test period
APHA 5220C, COD testing use Closed reflux method

1

BOD5

Incubation Probe

2

COD

Titrimetric3

Total and Free Ammonia

Ion Selective Electrode4

Total Nitrogen

Ion Selective Electrode

APHA 4500-NC, Nitrogen-selective electrode method

5

Total Phosphorus

Colorimetric

APHA 4500-PE, Ascorbic Acid Method

6

Total Solids

Gravimetric7

Total Suspended SolidsGravimetric

8Volatile Suspended Solids Gravimetric

9E. Coli

Enzyme Substrate

10Heat ValueCalorimeter11

Helminth EggBallinger

APHA 4500-NH3-D, ammonia-selective electrode method

APHA 2540-B, method for total solids dried at 103-105oC
APHA 2540-D, method for total suspended solids dried at103-105oC
APHA 2540-E, method for fix and volatile solids ignited at550oC
APHA 9223-B, Enzyme Substrate Coliform Test

15-1515

Challenges ofAccurate Estimation on Generated Amount of Septage

1616

SeptageFlow Diagram in Bandung

1717

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS ON
APPROPRIATE BUSINESS MODELS FORSEPTAGE MANAGEMENT

Opportunities for Private Sector to be
Involved in the Sector Area
1818

Models of Financial and Service Flows for SeptageManagement

Responsible stakeholder

Model 1: Discrete collection and treatment model showing the responsibility of each stakeholder andthe related financial transfers

Responsible stakeholder

Model 2: Integrated collection, transport and treatment model(Source: Tilley and Dodane, 2016)

1919

Models of Financial and Service Flows for SeptageManagement

Responsible stakeholder

Sanitationfee

Model 3: Parallel tax and discharge fee model(Source: Tilley and Dodane, 2016)20
20

Models of Financial and Service Flows for SeptageManagement

Responsible stakeholder

Sanitation
fee

Model 4: Dual licensing and sanitation tax model(Source: Tilley and Dodane, 2016)21
21

Models of Financial and Service Flows for SeptageManagement

Responsible stakeholder

Sanitation
fee

Model 5: Incentivised discharge model(Source: Tilley and Dodane, 2016)

22
22

RESEARCH FINDINGS
Existing Model for SeptageManagement in Bandung

Where aretheproblems?

2323

RESEARCH FINDINGS
Proposed Business Model for SeptageManagement in Bandung 12424

RESEARCH FINDINGS
Proposed Business Model for SeptageManagement in Bandung 2

On-callservices

25
25

RESEARCH FINDINGS
Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Model
Modela.

Model 1:
Sanitation Feeb.
c.
a.

Model 2:
Full privateb.

Advantages
Every households’ thatare not connected to thesewer may have lower
costs
fromcrosssubsidies;
Unlimiteddischarges
minimise risk of illegal
dumping
Collection and coverageincreases
A single operator is able
to optimise the businessmodel and improve
efficiency;
The government does
not need to spend fundtoimprovethemanagement of septage.

Disadvantages
Need to make the mostappropriate payment schemeso that it can include people
who are not PDAM cleanwater customers.

a. The government should
exercise more intense
supervision as all services
have been undertaken by
the private sector.
b. Potential
underservedcommunities.
c. The cost of desludging will
be greater because theprivate sector is profit
oriented.

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THE WAY FORWARD
1. Political will and strong
commitments

2. Roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder

3. Appropriate business model

Central Gov.

4. Awareness raising

5. Capacity for monitoring andenforcement of septage disposal

Local Gov.
6. Regular desludging program

Private sectors

Residents

7. Collaboration with research
institutions and universities
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to express their gratitude to theMinistry of the Environment of Japan for providing financial supports throughthe project entitled “Integrated Approach for Dissemination of Decentralized
Domestic Wastewater Treatment System in Southeast Asia” (1-1603).

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