As a resident who has been 45 years living in Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka , Tamalate Sub-district, Makassar City, Muhammad Jufri Dg. Mangun, also known as Pak Jufri, is called to find the solution for the problem caused by household waste (black water) in his neighborhood. Pak Jufri’s stands originated from his observation on the concerning condition of Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka, especially related to the sanitary conditions in the neighborhood where he lived.
Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka is a delta flanked by sea and river. This area was originally a land located on the banks of the river and about forty-five years ago this area was filled with bushes. “Unfortunately, the shrubs turned out to be a preferred place for most people who lived there to defecate,” said Pak Jufri, who worked as entrepreneur in his daily life.
According to White Book of Sanitation of Makassar City (Buku Putih Sanitasi Kota Makassar) Year 2011, number of households that already uses communal onsite wastewater treatment plant (Communal WWTP/IPAL Komunal) that complies with health standard is only 0.5% of households in Makassar City. This condition with the absence of proper sanitation facility can impact the community health. Therefore, massive investment and promotion are required to encourage community to establish Communal WWTP.
As a first step, USAID IUWASH, the former USAID IUWASH PLUS has facilitated the Agency of Public Works and the Organization of Local Government (OPD) to conduct assessment of the potential for development of Communal WWTP in Makassar, including in RW 04 Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka. USAID IUWASH also has important roles in providing assistance for community that include dissemination, establishment of Group of Beneficiaries and Custodians/ Kelompok Pemanfaat dan Pemelihara (KPP) and promoting the Communal WWTP program.
It started in 2012 when the Government of Makassar City began to socialize the plan for development of Communal WWTP, Pak Jufri with several other residents called to make changes for the neighborhood of Tanjung Merdeka. According to Pak Jufri, the plan for Communal WWTP construction is expected can be the gateway to improve the hygiene quality of environment. However, this is not an easy thing to do, because the Communal WWTP is not only about the construction matters, but also the utilization. Here, Pak Jufri together with the head of RT and RW (the neighborhood unit) experienced the challenge for the first time.
There is a number of residents that still feels pessimistic with that initial plan of Communal WWTP construction. This pessimistic attitude generally arises because there is still a lack of community knowledge about Communal WWTP. Those who are pessimistic also assume that the Communal WWTP is not their priority.
However, that challenge does not discourage Pak Jufri who wants to improve the surrounding environment. Pak Jufri tirelessly tried to convince the community about the development plan of SPBM USRI Communal WWTP in Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka. Pak Jufri’s intent is supported by the heads of RT and RW, who move together to convince the residents. Pak Jufri together with RT and RW heads further maximized the dissemination of information on the construction of Communal WWTP in their environment. One of the movements is by increasing the intensity of meetings with the community, from the preparation to the development stage. The dissemination of information on the construction of Communal WWTP is also aimed at increasing the opportunities of Communal WWTP utilization in the community.
To maximize the process of disseminating information on Communal WWTP, Pak Jufri together with the head of RT and RW put forward the adage or proverb of Makassar tribe by giving their KPP name with Sipakatau, which means mutual respect in order to trigger the awareness of the community against the polluted environment condition caused by open defecation behavior. The KPP Sipakatau was established in 2014 and Pak Jufri was appointed as the chairman. The duties and functions of the KPP Sipakatau are to supervise, conduct the operation and maintenance of the communal WWTP as well as manage the maintenance fee for the WWTP.
These efforts ultimately resulted in positive results. The previously pessimistic people began to be optimistic. Residents began to gradually change their understanding of the benefits of Communal WWTP, until finally formed a strong commitment as can be seen in community of RW 02 and RW 04, Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka to be more active in increasing access to sanitation. Now, all the wastewater from the toilet, bathroom, and also the kitchen all directly flowed to this Communal WWTP. There is not even an overflow ditch in the area. Residential wells were not polluted anymore.
In regards to Pak Jufri struggles through KPP Sipakatau with supports from heads of RT/RW, the Communal WWTP at Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka was awarded in Makassar City Sanitation Competition as Best Wastewater Management System for two consecutive years, that is 1st Winner in 2014 and 2nd Winner in 2015 ago. Until now, the condition of SPBM USRI Communal WWTP in Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka is still well maintained and managed.
“Through this Communal WWTP program as well as the recipient of the Makassar City sanitation competition award, I have the opportunity to have comparative study to Bali and see best practices from other regions that I can use as my inspiration in developing better new ideas for improving the environment where I live,” said Pak Jufri.
Until May 2017, SPBM USRI Communal WWTP has served 60 home connections with maintenance fee of 5,000 rupiah per house. The amount of fee is very small however it is not discourage the people who manage the KPP Sipakatau Communal WWTP. “Because the effort to create a healthier environment for community is far more important than anything else and also it is another form to humanize humanity,” said Pak Jufri. Although the Communal WWTP is already running, Pak Jufri acknowledges that the commitment of stakeholders in the form of assistance to the community related to the utilization of Communal WWTP is still needed.
The existence of Communal WWTP becomes very important and necessary because it directly makes Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka, or the surrounding environment becomes cleaner. “Before there was a Communal WWTP, the residents of Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka did defecate in any places. Thus, the view of the people defecate on the banks of the river and estuary, even in the bushes is often seen. Not to mention the quality of the water collected from wells is very bad, given the distance of a private septic tank with well water source is very close,” explained Pak Jufri. “Now, if you come to Kelurahan Tanjung Merdeka , especially in RW 04, there will be no more smell and dirty condition. Now the area looks clean and tidy, the streets are neat and the river water flowing clear. The housewives actively engaged in mutual cooperation activities (gotong royong) and also in processing household waste to be used as handicraft. Even better, the drinking water in this area tastes good and not brackish even though it is located near to the beach,” continued Pak Jufri with a smile.
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