On July 14, 2021, USAID IUWASH PLUS organized a Focus Group Discussion to discuss plans for implementing regular desludging services, which will be operated by PDAM Tirta Aji of Wonosobo district. The PDAM aims to launch its regular desludging service within 2021 and deliver the service to at least 22,000 PDAM customers in the urban area.
The FGD took place online, involving 23 participants including the Regional Secretary of Wonosobo district, One Andang; the Director of PDAM Tirta Aji, Muhammadi Sjahid; the Director of PT GDA, Sukento; and the representatives of other district offices, including Bappeda and the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office.
In the meeting, PDAM Tirta Aji conveyed its plans to carry out a septic tank census to build a customer database, develop a management information system for the organization’s operations, establish cooperation with PT GDA as a private desludging service provider, and organize various socialization and promotional activities. All of the activities are expected to be carried out by October 2021 with assistance from USAID IUWASH PLUS.
USAID IUWASH PLUS will also facilitate another FGD to determine the tariffs for the service on July 19, 2021, and PDAM Tirta Aji will advocate for the issuance of a regent regulation on the operation of regular desludging service, including its tariffs.
The Regional Secretary expressed his support for the preparation of the regular desludging service and acknowledged USAID IUWASH PLUS for its contributions in improving domestic wastewater management in Wonosobo district. He said, “We hope that, for the implementation of regular desludging services, PDAM can cooperate with PT GDA so that the two BUMDs can increase their income while improving their services to the community, especially in the field of domestic wastewater.”
