Study about Pro-Poor Water and Wastewater Management in Small Towns
Kusuma Bangsa is part of Pemecutan Kaja Village, West Denpasar District, which is one of the most densely populated areas of Denpasar. Most of the residents come from elsewhere in Bali or from East Java and Lombok Island, and have lived in the area for more than five years, generally leasing rooms or houses on a monthly or annual basis. Many householders earn their livelihood as street sellers, small entrepreneurs and construction workers, or they have homebased businesses. Most of the women stay home to care for children and the house. Monthly family incomes range from IDR500,000
About 80 per cent of rented rooms or houses in Kusuma Bangsa have small bathrooms and toilets without proper septic tanks. Before implementation of the project, wastewater was discharged to a nearby stream. During floods, rising backwater from the stream pushed wastewater and rubbish into houses. The area experienced a high rate of diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases, especially among children aged below five years, due to a lack of proper sanitation facilities and frequent flooding. Health costs and transport to health centres were a burden for the children’s mothers. Keep reading…