THE ISTP has also been working with environmental science in Embong Brantas, a squatter community in Malang, East Java, where they are finding ways to clean up the river and help the local community with sanitation.

A small-scale waste treatment facility and toilet block, managed by local residents, has been developed and installed.

The sanitation project, which has been developing for three years, was officially opened in early June by the Mayor of Malang Municipality and is already making a significant difference to the community.

“The project is an important symbol as it shows how sanitation can succeed in one of the most difficult urban areas imaginable – no-one believed it was possible to provide sanitation in such a site,” said Professor Newman.

“It is pleasing to see how proudly the local community are looking after the system. Now we need to see how we can extend the concept to 1000 other Kampungs along the Brantas river,” said Professor Newman.

The research was funded by AusAID through Murdoch University and Merdeka University, Malang, and involved support from two Perth environmental waste firms and the Australian and Indonesian governments.