World Bank reports sanitation holding back Indonesia’s economy

Oct. 30, 2013

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The report found that less than one percent of Indonesia’s wastewater is treated.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The World Bank's recent report on Indonesia's urban sanitation systems has found that inadequate septic and wastewater management are stunting the country's economic growth, according to an article in The Jakarta Post.

Less than five percent of septic tank sludge is properly treated in Indonesia, according to the article, and only about one percent of the population's wastewater is treated.

According to the report, the lack of proper sanitation services costs Indonesia 2.3 percent of its gross domestic product each year because of health and environmental economic losses, reported the article.

"Almost half of Indonesia's population lives in cities and many more will move to urban areas in coming years," said Rodrigo Chaves, World Bank's country director for Indonesia.  "Better wastewater and septage management services are urgently needed, especially for the poor."

Read the full article here.