Lessons in urban sanitation development : Indonesia Sanitation Sector Development Program 2006-2010

Urban sanitation problems are technically, socially and managerially complex. Building up over many years as cities develop rapidly and often informally, the result is often a mix of on-site and off-site infrastructure, some of it obsolete and much of it poorly maintained, with only a small
percentage of wastewater being treated and disposed of safely. Rarely do cities present a blank canvas upon which new infrastructure and services can be drawn. Planning for city-wide sanitation improvements is a daunting task and it is not surprising that local authorities, which often lack expert human resources, tend to opt for a blueprint approach based on major (and often unaffordable) new investments rather than assessing what already exists and exploring how it might be improved. [authors abstract]