Malang (malangkota.go.id) – One of the programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Indonesia, Urban Water Sanitation and Hygiene for All (IUWASH Plus) held the Launch of Sludge Drying Technology Options in Challenging Areas of Malang City and Gresik Regency at the Harris Hotel and Convention, Wednesday (15/12/2021).
This activity is a collaboration between USAID IUWASH Plus and the Ministry of National Development Planning (PPN)/Bappenas, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).
USAID IUWASH Plus Chief of Party Bill Parente said that the provision of access to drinking water and sanitation has been mandated in the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), with a target of 100 percent access to clean drinking water, including 15 percent access to safe drinking water.
"The five-year plan also targets 90 percent access to proper sanitation, including 15 percent access to safe sanitation. This target is in line with the sustainable development goals, especially the sixth goal, which is that all residents are expected to have access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2030," added Bill Parent.
USAID IUWASH Plus, he said, a five-year and eight-month initiative designed to assist the government in increasing access to drinking water and sanitation, as well as improving the hygienic behavior of poor and vulnerable urban populations. USAID has carried out activities with partners at the center and regions to support the acceleration of increasing access to safe drinking water and sanitation starting from production, institutions, to community assistance for behavioral change and building the need for access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
"To answer this need, one of the domestic wastewater management systems that was built is a residential-scale centralized domestic wastewater management system (SPALD-T)," explained Bill.
Bill said that currently Malang City has 88 residential-scale SPALD-T units, each serving 50 to 75 households. These SPALD-T units have been built on average for five years, which of course requires suction. However, many SPALD-Ts do not have access roads for suction trucks. This challenge is what drives USAID IUWASH Plus together with PT ITS Techno, Malang City Government, and Gresik Regency Government to develop applied technology and trials by developing two models, namely stationary and mobile.
"For Malang City, one mobile dewatering unit, two stationary dewatering units, and one existing dewatering revitalization unit were developed. Both models have been tested by the Malang City UPTD in areas that are difficult to reach by the septic tanker fleet and this process is running well," explained Bill.
Meanwhile, the Assistant for Government and Public Welfare of the Regional Secretariat of Malang City, Drs. Mulyono, M.Si said that realizing proper sanitation is quite a challenge for cities whose residents live in villages that are difficult to access, especially those on the banks of rivers.
"The option that is currently being presented is a very good new breakthrough. Thank you for testing it in Malang City and also Gresik Regency, so that it can encourage PHBS in the community," said Mulyono.
Through Mulyono, the Mayor of Malang, Drs. H. Sutiaji, expressed his appreciation and gratitude because Malang City has been used as a trial and prototype for this program. "If this is successful, of course the benefits will be enormous and can be applied, replicated in other areas. One of the things that the mayor ordered, please strengthen the socialization so that there is no rejection," he continued.
In this activity, a poll was also conducted to determine the names of three dewatering devices that function to dry mud in hard-to-reach areas. From the poll results, three names were selected, namely Sadewa for stationary dewatering, Nakula for mobile dewatering, and Pusaka for the pump unit. (ari/ram)
