The city of Medan in Indonesia lags behind sanitation, especially its sewerage system. This presentation lists down a number of recommendations that are to be followed in order for the city to achieve a speedy increase in wastewater service coverage.

As a well-managed sanitation system will contribute to improving the environment, it is essential for new urban development to provide sanitation systems, along with other utilities. Developing a mechanism will serve as the entry point for every industry to introduce and maintain their own effluent treatment plants.

This session featured presentations with information that provide understanding of the current conditions of cities. It also included a discussion on the possible barriers to sanitation, particularly looking at why sanitation is not happening.

This presentation outlines the details of the Regional Technical Assistance 8060: Promoting Innovations in Wastewater Management in Asia and the Pacific. Compelling arguments on wastewater management are highlighted. The focus and content of the conference, including expected outcomes and next steps, are also explained.

Experience of Manila Water Company in the Philippines shows that risks to attaining wastewater targets are best addressed through partnerships with key stakeholders. The company’s partnerships have resulted in creative and synergistic solutions that otherwise would have remained undeveloped if it had acted solely on its own.

This presentation features Estero Blitz, a rehabilitation initiative of Pasig River and tributaries by the Metro Manila Development Authority in the Philippines. The objectives of the initiative, including challenges and way forward, are discussed.

The water and sanitation sector globally depends on Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) definitions to measure progress. Millenium Development Goals are likewise considering these definitions. Empirical evidence suggests, however, that progress measured using JMP definitions only provide a partial picture which do not necessarily describe progress with quality and with equity.

Research findings indicate that less than half of Indian households have access to toilets and a sizeable number of population still practice open defecation. The Government of India, under the “Total Sanitation Campaign,” has been promoting access to improved sanitation through incentives and social mobilization.

Over a hundred thousand children in Indonesia die every year from diarrhea due to lack of access to improved latrines. To reduce the number of diarrhea cases in the country, Plan Indonesia has adopted a Community-Based Total Sanitation approach that represents a new paradigm for responding to the challenge.