Environmental Health And Public Safety Through Fecal Sludge Management And Socio-Economic Analysis

Lack of fecal sludge management systems (FSM) at the household level is a global problem and an inhibitor to sustainable development. FSM includes the storage, collection, transport, treatment, safe end use, or disposal of fecal sludge. The majority of people in developing countries rely on onsite sanitation which generates fecal sludge. Fecal sludge is often allowed to accumulate in the environment. Fecal sludge is a growing challenge, generating significant risks to the environment and public health. This paper evaluates FSM at the household level in the collection and emptying of the Indonesian provinces of Sumatera Barat and Lampung. The study quantifies safe environment level of FSM at the household level by collecting data via socio-economic demographics of the wealth index, household member, ownership, and distance to body water. The study reveals the majority of households in both Provinces do not have proper FSM in collection and emptying. Limited FSM disposal services result in a fraction of the fecal sludge being disposed in a treatment plant. This poses a major challenge for Indonesia to achieve universal sanitation access