Decentralised Wastewater and Septage Management in Asia –Challenges and Opportunities

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

1

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.

222

- 58% of urbanhouseholds equipped withseptic tanks- > 50% of urban-- 18% of households

households equipped withseptic 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%of septage isOnly
safely 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 treated333Relationship between urban wastewater treatment ratio
and GDP per capita

4(Source: Bao et at. 2015)44

SDG 6
From MDGs to SDGs –Addressing unfinished business

Water andsanitation in theSDGs

5666

Typical DEWATS combine the following
technical treatment steps

Example of SANIMAS
system in Indonesia

7(Source: WEDC et al., 2009)77

Common Challenges in Addressing Poor Sanitationin WEPA Countries- Predominance of septic tanks with its poor performance/maintainance as effective
onsite wastewater treatment system, but considered as diffuse sources ofpollution 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 fromseptage treatment plant in Denpasar, Indonesia(Source: Author)
888

Common Challenges in Addressing Poor Sanitationin WEPA Countries-

More stringent effluent standard is being applied in many urban
areas, including residential and commercial buildings-

Poor maintenance (desludging) for onsite
and decentralised treatment systems (DEWATS)(Source: JSC, 2018)-

No clear definition on DEWATS? Lack of knowledge on

suitable DEWATS options for different local contexts?
Which effluent standard should be applied? Should we use
the same effluent standard for centralised wastewater
treatment plants? No detailed guidelines, andstandard method (& certification system) for treatment performance
evaluation for DEWATS technologies

999

Big Gaps between “Science - Reality”

Science seems to be clear…but Reality & Future is NOT
5m3 truck load of FSdumping ∼ 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 (includingtechnological, legal and institutional framework, financial, etc.), and especially there arestrong needs for appropriate business models for septage management in the region101010

INDONESIACONCEPT OF WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN INDONESIA BASED ON
MoPWH Regulation No.4 Year 2017

Proper septage management contributes toUniversal Access in Indonesia

11(Source: Asri, 2018)

1111

Status of River Water Quality in Indonesia 2012-2016
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%

309

443
420

407

438

50%
40%
30%
154

20%
10%
0%

9380

80

719212012

2013

2014

Lightly Polluted

Moderately Polluted

Class II Compliant10940392015

2016
Heavily Polluted*Numbers Indicate sampling points

Status of compliance with water quality in Indonesia

12(Source: Created by WEPA based on data from MoE 2017)

1212

MUSI River

CONTRIBUTION OF
POLLUTION SOURCES IN
MAJOR RIVER BASINS

Domestic

35%

Agriculture
6%

Livestock

1%
48%

CITARUM River
Livestock

Industry

Domestic

Agriculture

Livestock

18%
59%

84%
10%

CISADANE River

Domestic

20%

BRANTAS River
Agriculture

Livestock

Industry

9%15%61%(Source: Budi, 2016)

Industry

4% 6%
13%

4%

Industry

16%

CILIWUNG River
Domestic

Agriculture

Domestic
Agriculture
Livestock
Industry47%

22%
22%

131313

Present sanitation service access and wastewater treatment in Indonesia

14(Source: Muhammad, 2018)14
14

SeptageFlow Diagrams in Bandung and Denpasar
Estimation of Septage Volume at Bandung City
500,000

Volume of Septage (m3/year)

400,000

Septage Sludge

300,000

Only Fecal Sludge

200,000

100,000-

Conventional
MethodLLTT Method

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

Bandung

2021

2023

2025

Denpasar

2027

2029

2031

2033

2035

Year (Prediction)

140,000

Estimation of Septage Volume at Denpasar City

120,000

Volume of Septage (m3/year)

100,000

Septage Sludge

80,00060,000Only Fecal Sludge

40,000Conventional
MethodLLTT Method

20,000-Denpasar

152011

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

Year (Prediction)

2025

2027

2029

2031

2033

2035

15
15

SeptageSamplings and Laboratory Analysis at ITB

No1Parameter

TechniqueMethod
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

ColorimetricAPHA 4500-PE, Ascorbic Acid Method

6

Total Solids

Gravimetric7

Total Suspended Solids

Gravimetric8

Volatile Suspended Solids Gravimetric

9E. Coli

Enzyme Substrate10

Heat Value

Calorimeter11

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 Test1616-1616

Existing Septage Service Chain in Bandung
Septage Emptying, Collection and Disposal
Household

Septic Tank

Septage TruckDumping Point
Sewage Treatment Plant

In many cases, householders have tobreak their floor to access septic tankfor sludge emptying
Emptying sequence desludging service section (a) Desludging process (b) Transporting septage todumping point (c) Sludge dumping process (d) Dumping point that connected to Bojongsoang WWTP
171717

Existing Septage Service Chain in Bandung
Emptying
Transportation

Access to Toilet

Treatment

Final Disposal
No
septagetreatment
facility

Illegal dumping
Household,offices,schools,
hotels,restaurants

SeptageCollection
fees

PrivateDesludging
ServiceSeptage

WW effluent

SludgeOpenfieldwithinWWTP

Septage

PDAM
Desludging
ServiceO&M
fund

LLTT fees

Bojongsoang
WWTP

Dumpingfees

Collection
feesHouseholds(included in
LLTTProgram)

Septage

Citarum
River andother water
bodiesO&M
fund

Environmental
monitoring

PDAM
Tirtawening

DLHK
Bandung

18
Limitedcapacity

Existing Septage Service Chain in Denpasar
Emptying
Transportation

Access to Toilet

Final Disposal

Treatment

Governmentof Bali
Province

Illegal dumping
Household,offices,schools,
hotels,restaurants

SeptageCollection
fees

Wastewater fee is being
collected by UPT;
separately with water
fee collected by PDAM

PrivateDesludging
ServiceSeptage
Dumpingfees

Budget supportfor O&M
Waterbodies
UPT PAL(Suwung
DecentralisedSTP)

WW effluent

SludgeEnvironmental
monitoring

Operationaland financial
reportDLHK Bali
Province

Public Workagency ofBali province

Open fieldwithin theplant

191919

BUSINESS MODELS FOR SEPTAGE COLLECTION AND
TREATMENT IN INDONESIA

Opportunities for Attracting Private Finance toWater and Sanitation Sector

202020Average willingness to pay for septage emptying and collection
service in Bandung and Denpasar
Bandung
Class (IDR/desludging)upper limit
lower limit< 100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000> 250,000

100,000
150,000
200,000
AmountTotal Amount (IDR/desludging)Number of
respondents

Percentage(%)

lower limit

upper limit

34
47
65
61
43
250

13.6
18.8
26.0
24.4
17.2
100%

13,60018,80039,00048,80043,000163,200

13,60028,20052,00061,00043,000197,000

Number of
respondents

Percentage(%)

lower limit

upper limit

1101533
41100

1.0
10.0
15.0
33.0
41.0
100

1,000
10,00022,50066,000102,500202,000

1,000
15,00030,00082,500102,500
231,000

DenpasarClass (IDR/desludging)lower limit

upper limit< 100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000> 250,000

100,000
150,000
200,000
AmountTotal Amount (IDR/desludging)

21
21
21

Ability to pay for septage emptying and collection service in
Bandung and Denpasar
BandungService

Septage Management

Percentage ofaverage
householdexpenditure/monthExpenditure(IDR/month)

ATP amount(IDR/month)

Existing Condition(IDR/month)2%2,369,941

47,39812,500Denpasar

Service

Septage Management

Percentage ofaverage
householdexpenditure/monthExpenditure(IDR/month)

ATP amount(IDR/month)

Existing Condition(IDR/month)2%2,300,056

46,001

14,583222222

Conceptual simplified incentivised discharge model for Bandung withhigh consensus among relevant stakeholders
DLHK Bandung(Env. Monitoring)Responsible stakeholder

Scheduleddesludging
for free ofcharge

Private de-sludging service
providers

Sanitation (wastewaterand septage) fee
incorporated in watersupply fee

Item

STP operated byprivate company(under PPPModel)

PDAM

Amount (IDR/year)

O&M septage management

128,232

Ability to pay
Willingness to pay

568,776
180,100374,438

Recommended tariff for covering O&M costs

Farmers232323

Conceptual simplified incentivised discharge model for Denpasar withhigh consensus among relevant stakeholders
DLHK Bali
Province (Env.
Monitoring)Responsible stakeholder

Private de-sludging service
providers

UPT PAL

Farmers

Scheduleddesludging
for free ofcharge

Sanitation fee(integrated in watersupply bill)
Item

Bali Provincial government

Amount (IDR/year)

O&M septage management

299,876

Ability to pay
Willingness to pay
Recommended tariff for covering O&M costs

552,012
216,500
384,256242424

THE WAY FORWARD
1. Political will and strong
commitments
2. Roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder

Central Gov.

3. Appropriate business model androadmap for establishing appropriate
sanitation fee structure
4. Awareness raising

5. Capacity for monitoring andenforcement of septage disposal

Local Gov.
6. Regular desludging program withthe supports of GIS-based database

Private sectors

Residents

7. Collaboration with research
institutions and universities

25
2525

“National Workshop on Business Models for Septage
Collection and Treatment in The Urban Areas of Indonesia”

262626VIETNAMPresent sanitation service access and wastewater treatment in Vietnam
A number of DEWATS systems havebeen installed across the country,
particularly in factories, hospitals,restaurants, resorts, farms, andnewly developed urban areas, etc.)

By 2018, about 15% ofcollected sewage treated bynearly 40 centralized WWTPs

272727

MYANMAR

28(Source: Thein Min, 2018)2828

MALAYSIA

Present sanitation service access and wastewater treatment in Malaysia

29(Source: Mahyudin, 2018)2929

THE PHILIPPINES

5-YEAR PLAN ON SANITATION PROGRAM IN THE PHILIPPINES

2017201820192021• Toilet Facilities(with Super, Midand SubStructure)•

Policy on Standard
Design,Construction,
Maintenance of
Septic Tank

• Sludge andSeptage
ManagementProgram•

Decentralized
Wastewater
Treatment
System• Communal Toilet
Facilities•

Alternative
Sanitation
Technologies• Training onNSSMP

•

Small
Community
SewageTreatment
Facility• Public Toilet
Facilities•

Retrofitting of old ST(underdesign or w/leaching chamber)

2022

•

Policy in
SafelyManaged
Sanitation
Services•

Used Biosolids
and treatedwastewater30(Source: DOH, 2019)

3030

GOOD PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PHILIPPINESWastewater Condition in 1997
Treatment Capacity, MLD
1 STP40

1997

3% of population was connected to sewerage system
85% of households were using septic tanks
58% of pollution was contributed by domestic sources
1 operational sewage treatment plant

31(Source: MANILA WATER, 2019)31
31

GOOD PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PHILIPPINES

MWC
took
over the EastZone
concession
area

1997

Planning ofwastewater system

1998

1999

2000

2000-2004: Construction ofsewage treatment plants
2005: Completion and start ofoperations of 29 STPs

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

32
(Source: MANILA WATER, 2019)3232

GOOD PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Upgrade of Communal Septic Tanks to Separate System

33(Source: MANILA WATER, 2019)33
33

GOOD PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Decentralised approach for Septage Management(as Interim Solution)

34(Source: MANILA WATER, 2019)34
34

GOOD PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PHILIPPINES
North Septage Treatment Plant

South Septage Treatment Plant

35(Source: MANILA WATER, 2019)3535

GOOD PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PHILIPPINES

36(Source: MANILA WATER, 2019)36
36