WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012

<strong>WEPA</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012Chapter 2.1 Domestic Wastewater Treatment in AsiaHowever, according to United Nations data (UNDP2006), the construction of sewage treatment plants is twoto three times more costly than the installation of septictanks. In fact, an examination of the relationship betweenthe coverage ratio for sewerage treatment in <strong>WEPA</strong>countries and per capita GDP (see Figure 2.1.8) reveals acertain positive correlation. In most Asian countries wherethe coverage ratio for sewerage treatment is still low, theper capita GDP remains under USD 4,000. Thus, theconstruction of large-scale sewage treatment plants, whichare more costly than septic tanks, is not an economicallyfeasible option in these countries.Issues on operation of domestic wastewater treatmentfacilitiesOperational issues of sewage treatment plants followingconstruction and entering operational stages have also beenreported in some Asian countries. Cases have been observedwhere residents dislike paying sewage treatment fees andtherefore do not connect to the service despite living in thecoverage area. Accordingly, inflow is less than the treatmentcapacity. Figure 2.1.9 shows the percentage of actual inflowaccounted for in the treatment capacity of plants in 17locations in Indonesia. Of the 17 locations, only sevenplants have an inflow of wastewater over 50% of treatmentSewerage Treatment ratio (%)100806040200China*ThailandMalaysia**Republic of KoreaJapanPhilippines, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Lao PDR,Myanmmer, Nepal, Sri Lanka10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000GDP per Capita (curent-USD)* Sewerage treatment ratio of China is only for urban area**Sewerage treatment ratio of Malaysia is except for Sabah and Sawawak provinceFigure 2.1.8. Relationship between sewerage treatmentcoverage ratio and GDP per capita in <strong>WEPA</strong> countries(Source: See References)capacity, and others are under 50%. The figure shows thatfor two locations in particular, inflow is less than 20%. Forthe country on the whole, wastewater volume at only 47%of treatment capacity is treated at sewage treatment plants.% of actual inflow/design capacity100806040200P.Brayan BengkelSewonSetiabudi(Phase1) (jakarta)BojongsoangAde IrmaPerumnas Utara/RPerumnas Selatan/EKesendenLambung MangkuratPekapuran rayaHasan BasriSuwungMojosongoSemanggiMargasariSebengkokSukasariSwerage Treatment FacilityFigure 2.1.9. Percentage of actual inflow to treatment capacity of plants in Indonesia (2011)(Source: Data provided by the Ministry of Public Works of Indonesia)Moreover, as mentioned in Table 2.1.6, the inability tocollect sewage treatment fees from most treatment plantusers in Thailand has resulted in the use of the publicfinances from local governments to cover operational costs.In recent years, more regional governments have called forthe collection of sewage treatment fees, and the centralgovernment is working on setting regulations on proceduresto establish sewage treatment fees. Nevertheless, manydifficulties remain in the actual collection of these fees. InMalaysia, sewage treatment fees are not levied according tousage, rather a fixed sewage treatment fee for ordinaryhouseholds has been established. Moreover, lower fees havebeen established for low-income groups. The Indah WaterKonsortium (IWK) that operates the sewage treatmentfacilities in Malaysia cannot operate on sewage treatmentfees alone. Thus, it receives funds from the Ministry ofFinance in order to operate.37