Innovative Water and Sanitation Management System to Establish A Green, Beautiful, and Self-Reliant Urban Informal Settlements in Lebak Siliwangi, Indonesia
Rapid urbanization and population growth are the main factors leading to the emergence of informal settlements in Indonesia (Alzamil, 2017). A total of 54% of the Indonesian population lives in urban areas (WHO, 2015). Due to this massive urbanization, the problems of land shortage and increasing land prices present major challenges. Consequently, the urban poor is forced to live in high-density areas with poor environmental conditions for urban housing such as informal settlements. In an Indonesian context, these informal settlements are known as urban kampungs. Generally, kampungs are typical urban settlements in Indonesia having unique characteristics (Hutama, 2016). In many underdeveloped countries, urban kampungs have become a component of urban living for large populations in urban areas (Atmodiwirjo, 2012). These kampungs provide a solution for the need for lower-income populations for housing space in crowded cities (Kustiwan, 2015). Currently, about one billion people in the world live in informal settlements and lack access to basic services and city infrastructure (UN Habitat, 2018). The main challenge for urban kampung residents is to meet their demands for adequate space and basic daily services within the available space and the existing infrastructure.
Bandung, the third-largest city in Indonesia and the capital of West Java has an estimated metropolitan population of approximately 10.5 million persons (2014) and has been subject to rapid urbanization. This includes containing some around thirty-eight thousand hectares of ‘slums’ comprised mainly of kampungs which accommodate the urban disadvantaged and poorer households. Lebak Siliwangi is one of the urban informal settlements in Bandung which is located in the northern part of Bandung City and is a densely populated area located along the riverbanks of the Cikapundung and Cikapayang Rivers. Since the influx of migrants in the 1950’s, the morphology of Lebak Siliwangi has been one of the buildings and alleyways coming first, meanwhile services, infrastructure, and clarity of land tenure following later.
Informal water infrastructures in Indonesia have emerged due to the inability or incapacity of the government to guarantee water service to all communities (Maryati, 2018). The regional water company in Bandung, PDAM Tirtawening, only covered 65% of the Bandung population in 2017. In Lebak Siliwangi, only 46% of its population use regional water company as water supply service. Moreover, the residents in urban kampungs in Bandung City are mostly low-income (Bandung Statistics, 2017). Due to this problem, urban kampung dwellers might not be able to afford clean water from a pipeline network provided by a regional water company. To fill this gap, communities have their own mechanisms to meet their needs and arrange it as a self-supply or self-governing water infrastructure provision. This issue raises concerns regarding the water quality of these informal water infrastructures.
Informal settlements in most developing countries are highly affected by severe environmental and public health issues originating from inadequate solid waste management (MSWM) (Gutberlet, et al, 2017). This is caused by rapid population growth and urbanization which leads to increased waste generation rates. One major issue in these areas is the absence or inefficiency of solid waste management. Mismanagement of waste can have many adverse consequences such as soil and air contamination, surface water and groundwater pollution, and the spread of vector-borne infectious diseases (Ferronato & Torretta, 2019). This impact is also exacerbated by the tendency of people to throw garbage into the river. Lebak Siliwangi which is the study area in this discussion is one of the slums in the city of Bandung also has the potential to experience waste problems if waste management is not done properly.
Following the global target established in the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the government of Indonesia has set the main goal in the water sector, which is translated in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), as a target of 100% of all households having adequate access to safe drinking water. Adequate access in this context is defined as access to a water supply with a piping system according to regulations, standards and procedures, and normative principles in providing water infrastructure networks. In the above context, The Green, Beautiful, and Self-Reliant Water and Sanitation Management Concept was proposed to overcome problems facing Lebak Siliwangi and realize the 100% of all households having adequate access to safe drinking water.
The Green, Beautiful, and Self-Reliant Water and Sanitation Management Concept is a combination of the adoption of ABC Water system concepts in Singapore, Waste Bank, and Community-based Wastewater Treatment. This concept aims to create the naturalization of the drainage network system, the development of green open space which also functions as a natural reservoir, and the application of the Zero Delta Q concept which requires each infrastructure (buildings or houses in general) prevents runoff water as it enters the drainage system or river system, by retained, treated and used it first.
“A green and Beautiful Lebak Siliwangi”
Green and Beautiful concept reflected on the building appearance transformation into a ‘green’ architecture design with various vertical gardens growing in every corner of the building walls. This concept also reflected on the naturalization of the drainage system, so the drainage will be seen complementary with the buildings ‘green’ design. Cleaner water in the drainage system will stimulate the growth of natural ecosystems. This uniqueness also indirectly will spur the growth of community-based tourism.
“Self-reliant Lebak Siliwangi”
Self — Reliant concept reflected on how Lebak Siliwangi can utilize rainwater resources as a source of raw water sustainably, so it can reduce the burden of groundwater utilization. Also, this concept reflected on how Lebak Siliwangi can turn its wastewater into cleaner water, so it won’t polluting the environment and can also be used again to watering the plants, cleaning some tools, etc. By this concept, we are hoping that Lebak Siliwangi can manage its solid waste issue and turn it into a business opportunity. This concept may lead to Lebak Siliwangi to do its self — healing using the ‘Let the mother earth do her job’ concept.
The Green, Beautiful, and Self-reliant concept also includes the Rain Water Harvesting Concept. So, in addition to having a function to provide more appropriate open space for the community and also improving the aesthetics and quality of the environment through natural means, this concept seeks to be able to use rainwater as a source of community daily raw water. This has also corresponded with the relatively very high rainfall condition in the Lebak Siliwangi with the consistent rainy-day conditions that are always present every month. To implement The Green, Beautiful, and Self-reliant concepts, here are several recommendations on clean water, wastewater, and solid waste management targeting local government and the local communities.
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