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Tripikon-S as Appropriate Technology for Sustainable Sanitation in Riverbank

Area in Tropical Developing Country

Conference Paper · December 2010

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 Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010)
11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan

TRIPIKON-S AS APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE

SANITATION IN RIVERBANK AREA IN TROPICAL DEVELOPING COUNTRY

Aditya Wishnu Wijaya1* and Novi Paramita Dewi2

1
Undergraduate School of Civil Engineering, Gadjah Mada University
2
Undergraduate School of Communication Department, Gadjah Mada University

*Corresponding author: aditya_wijaya07@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
In the concept of sustainable development, there are several pillars that must be considered
include economy, social, and environment. The pillars has also been the main consideration for the
concept of sustainable sanitation. In the last years, sanitation development aspects more emphasis on
infrastructure development which use top down approachment. On the other hand, the technology used
is also not adapted to the community needs and capabilities. The results of such development is futile
infrastructure and only becoming monumental buildings. In the community along the river in the
developing countries, which are often densely populated residential is commonly associated as a
shabby, disorganized, and lack of access to public spaces. We need special approach in achieving
sustainable sanitation. One approach that can be done is by choosing the right technology. Appropriate
technology in the sanitation problems in the community is facilitating conditions of the community
(lack of open space, low levels of income and education, community social behavior). Tripikon-S is
one example of appropriate technology in sanitation. By way of working and forms that can be
effectively applied to areas that lack open space and low levels economy, Tripikon-S can be used as
one tool in support of sustainable sanitation in the area along the river in tropical developing countries

Keywords: sustainable sanitation, appropriate technology, riverbank area, Tripikon-S, tropical country

URBAN SLUM RIVERBANKS AREA SANITATION

One of MDG’s 2015 is to Ensure Environmental Sustainability, especially People access To
Safe Water and Basic Sanitation. The Government of Indonesia has stated its commitment to achieving
this target. In order to do so, an estimated 78 million more people will require improved water supply
and 73 million improved sanitation services by 2015, not to mention necessary improvements in
service quality for those already shown as having access.[1]
Water supply and sanitation in Indonesia is characterized by poor levels of access and service
quality. Over 100 million people in Indonesia lack access to safe water and more than 70 percent of the
country’s 220 million population relies on water obtained from potentially contaminated
sources.[2] With only 2% access to sewerage in urban areas is one of the lowest in the world among
middle-income countries. Most of the bad sanitation problem comes from the slum area in urban
developing countries, that in fact inhabited by the poor. The sanitations system on slum area can not
solve waste water problem. The sanitation system that do not ensure hygienic and separation of waste
from human contact. The sights commonly seen and most striking is a bad habit people riverbank
slums that make bathing, washing, and toilet in the same river. No wonder that many poor people
suffering from diarrhea, typhoid, malaria and other diseases resulted from the habit. This will make
them spend extra money for health care.

APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY IS TOTALLY NEEDED

Appropriate technology is technology that is designed with special consideration to the
environmental, ethical, cultural, social, political, and economical aspects of the community it is
intended for. Therefore, the use of appropriate technology is more ensure the sustainability.
Appropriate technologies are easier to maintain, and have less of an impact on the environment
compared to techniques from mainstream technology, which they contend is wasteful and
environmentally polluting.[3] The condition on slum river banks area conventional septic tank which
is quite efficient as environmental health infrastructureis difficult to built for these areas due to lack of
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 Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010)
11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan

land or for land that always flooded. Flushing feces from the toilet straight into the river or into the
ground will pollute the environment and can spread the disease. Therefore, the waste from the toilet
should be processed by bacteria in the septic tank for several amount of times. Because in the area of
shallow ground water lever, marshes and tidal affected area, or on narrow terrain area septic tanks are
too difficult (expensive) to built. Therefore, it will be required the suitable Wastewater Treatment
Installation. Seeing this fact that happened in all the slums by the river in Indonesia, is required an
improvement to a reliable sanitation systems so that environmental pollution can be minimized. For
that reason, appropriate technology need to be created to solve the sanitation problem in slum
riverbanks area

THE NAME OF THIS APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY IS “TRIPIKON-S”

Tripikon-S is right technology to solve the problem. Tripikon-S (TRI (three) - Pipe -
Concentric - Septic). This means that three pipes arranged concentrically (same axes) as a septic tank.
Tripikon-S was invented by Prof. Ir. Hardjoso Prodjopangarso. Developed at the Laboratory of
Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Gadjah Mada University.
Prof. Hardjoso create Tripikon-S when the governor of South Borneo Province asked him to overcome
sanitation problem in slum riverbanks Banjarmasin City area. Tripikon-S can be used for septic tank
household latrines in the area of shallow ground water level, marshes and tidal affected area, or on
narrow terrain area. The Tripikon-S are innovative technology to solve waste water treatment in slum
riverbanks area, eventhough Tripikon-S can be installed in any characteristic of areas.
Scientifically, Tripikon-S has ability to reduce the potential hazard arising from pollutant or
untreathed wastewater. From the results of experiments conducted, it has been proved that substances
in the wastewater product was reduced significantly so that waste water from processing of
Tripikon-S installation is safe for disposal. Reduction of water and soil pollution influences the
stability of ecological system. In addition, Tripikon-S is simple to build and easily adopted. It does not
need high technology to install Tripikon-S.

Figure 1. Tripikon-S Figure

HOW DOES TRIPIKON-S WORKS?

Tripikon works like a regular septic tank. The difference is lied on the direction of waste
water flow in the processing tube. In a conventional septic tank, water flows horizontally, whereas in
Tripikon-S, the water flows vertically. Waste water entering Tripikon-S through a small pipe (inlet)
connected with the toilet which continues to medium pipe. Detention time used in Tripikon-S is 3
days. Inside the medium pipe, there are two sewage treatment processes.

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 Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010)
11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan

The first process is a chemical process: human feces which mixed with water will undergo a
process of reduction. 60-70% of feces will settle to the bottom as sludge. Parts that are not deposited
feces will float on top with fat to form a layer called the Scum. The Scum has function to maintain
anaerobic conditions in the bottom of the pipe and allowing anaerobic bacteria grow up flourish that
will function in the decomposition process.
The second process is a biological process: the process is sludge decomposition by anaerobic
bacteria. Feces will break down into small parts and come out as effluent which unpolluted and
environmental friendly.
Besides experiencing the process of decomposition, the reduction process of pathogen
bacteria such as Enshericia Coli also happen in medium pipe. The bacteria E. Coli is a bacteria that
need oxygen to stay alive (aerobic/facultative anaerobic bacteria). Oxygen in Tripikon-S will be more
easily obtained on the upper surface layer of water. On that basis, the bacteria E. coli tend to be at the
top of water layer to get oxygen. In addition to E. coli bacteria, there are other aerobic bacteria that
live in the pipe Tripikon-S. These bacteria also have a tendency to stay on the top layer of surface
water. Because of the availability of oxygen in water is limited, there was the cannibalism process to
get enough oxygen. Eventually the bacteria E. coli can be reduced through the process.Wastewater that
has undergone decomposition process will exit through the outlet pipe on Tripikon-S. On the other
hand, there is a sludge depletion pipe thereby extending the service of Tripikon-S.

CASE STUDY OF TRIPIKON-S IMPLEMENTATION

Tripikon-S as appropriate technology already implemented in some places. One of the
examples of implementation Tripikon-S are in Uluwatu, Palembang and Prawirodirjan, Yogyakarta.
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Implementation Tripikon-S in Uluwatu

Regional Background
3-4 Uluwatu.Palembang Village is an area of riverbank in the city of Palembang that has
characteristics of high water level. High water level which causes difficulties in installing a septic tank
(expensive construction costs). Based on that problem, Tripikon-S has choosen to address the
sanitation problem in that area.

Design
Tripikon-S in this project designed with the capacity of communal services 10 families (40
persons; assuming 4 people per family). Some data are known as follows:
Technical Data
Production waste water (v) : 25 liters / person / day
Sludge production (p) : 35 liters / person / year
Number of people served (n) : 40 people
Depletion interval (t) : 0.5 years
Detention time (T) : 3 days

Data Analysis
To count the volume of waste water (1) and sludge (2), the formula that used as follow

Vw = v x n x t (1)

Vs = n x p x t (2)

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 Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010)
11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan

So the equation will be :

The volume of waste water (Vw) =vxnxT

= 25 x 40 x 3
= 3000 liter
Sludge volume (Vs) =nxpxt
= 40 x 35 x 0.5
= 700 liter.
Total volume (Vtot) = Vw + Vs
= 3700 liter

Assuming used 1 m in diameter for big pipe and 0,6 m in diameter for medium pipe,
Net cross section (A) = 68,33 dm2
Length of pipe (H) = Vtot/A
= 3700/68,33
= 5,4 m

From the equation before, the Tripikon-S installation in Uluwatu, Palembang used 5,4 m in pipe length
and diameter 1 m, 0,6 m, and 0,0762 m continue for big pipe, medium pipe, and small pipe.

Implementation in Yogyakarta

Regional Background
Riverbed settlements in the city of Yogyakarta is a densely populated residential and minim
access for open spaces. Sanitation settlements along the river in Yogyakarta City is also
bad. Tripikon-S installation is take place along the Code River,one of river in Yogyakarta, precisely in
the village prawirodirjan RW 18th (RW, a unit of community consisting of several neighborhood),
Mergangsan Sub-District, Yogyakarta City. Implementation done on some neighborhood (N)
consisting of N 58,N 59,N 60, and N 61.Technology Tripikon-S is chosen to provide the solution to
the lack of open space in these residential areas.

Design
Design Tripikon-S used in this project is a design for individual toilets and communal toilets
on a small scale. S Tripikon development is also accompanied by the construction of Sewage water
treatment that serves to process the grey water.

Approachment Method
The method used is community involved in determining the location of the installation,
create, and maintain the installation. People are asked to determine target and project
objectives. Through the PKK (Empowering for Family Welfare), the facilitator convey the idea that
there are solutions to sanitation problems and asked for active participation of society in the making
Tripikon-S. After the installation is formed, people were given training on maintenance procedures and
the use of Tripikon-S. The training is conducted per neighborhood region in the village.[5]

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 Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010)
11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan

Table 1. Number of Household and Person Served (SEA-UEMA Project in Yogyakarta, 2006)
Number of Unit Served
SN Installed System Served Community
Household Man Woman
Seven Tripikon-S in three Communal Neighborhood 58, 59, 60
1 63 302 281
Toilets and 61
One Tripikon-S Model in Individual Neighborhood 58, 59, 60
2 2 2 3
House and 61

3 Instalment of Sewage Treatment System Neighboorhood 58 and 60 89 229 215

TOTAL 154 533 499

THE EFFECTIVENESS AND PRIVILEGES OF TRIPIKON-S

Based on how the Tripikon-S works and its effectiveness, it could say that Tripikon-S is
appropiate technology especially at the area which has characteristic as well as slum riverbank area. In
the early phase of Tripikon-S invention, it used as rapid response to address the spread of diarrhea
endemic at slum riverbank area in Banjarmasin District, South Borneo Province. The similar condition,
that going on Banjarmasin, could easily found in other places in slum riverbanks area in developing
countries. Effectiveness Tripikon-S as appropriate technology to evaluate some aspects such as:
1. The quality of wastewater
The quality of waste water can be seen from a comparison of the content contained in the
influent and effluent. For the comparison example of influent and effluent quality, is used
data from the test results in Pontianak and Banjarmasin
Amount of KMnO4 (mg/L)

Month
Figure 2. The interaction graph between amount of KMnO4 and month
(Source : Land Resources Research Center of Gadjah Mada University)

From these results showed that after the operation of Tripikon-S for 4 months the quality of the
resulting outlets is going better. In this trial KMnO4 used as parameter to measure the organic content.
The KMnO4 parameter is more stable rather than BOD parameter in term of organic content.[6]
2. Area Used
Areas that a re used in installing Tripikon-S is less than septictank. These conditions allow
Tripikon-S to be installed on a narrow land. the vertical waste water flow of Tripikon,
which it influenced the form of Tripikon-S is also effective for application in areas with
high water level or tidal areas
Tripikon-S also has another privileges. Those privileges can be named as 3E of Tripikon-S. 3 E
elements are :
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 Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010)
11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan

1.
Easy Built: Tripikon-S is easy to build because the materials used easily gained and can be
replaced with local materials as well as take simple construction
2. Easy Financed: the making of S tripikon installation does not require large funds compared
with the cost of making septictank and can be funded independently by community or in
parcipatory funding scheme(with subsidies)
3. Easy replicated: technology used is applicable and adoptable, and do not require high
technology in the installation and its maintenance.
Element 3 E is an increasingly strengthened the position of Tripikon-S as an appropriate
technology, so Tripikon-S could be a solution to sanitation problems in urban slum riverbanks areas in
developing country.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special thanks to Waterplant Community and Land Resources Research Center, Gadjah Mada
University for the sources and the kind service and also to Prof. Ir. Hardjoso Prodjopangarso and Ir.
Darmanto Dip. H.E.,M.Sc. who gave a lot of information about Tripikon-S concept and installation.
Thanks also to Center of Analysis for Management Policy, Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta University for
the data of Tripikon-S installation in Yogyakarta.

References

[1] World Bank: Project Appraisal Document On A Proposed Credit To The Republic Of Indonesia
For A Third Water Supply And Sanitation For Low Income Communities (Pamsimas) Project,
2006, June 1, Annex 1, Available online:
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Indonesia&am
p;action=edit (accessed on 26th August, 2010).
[2] Asian Development Bank: Country Water Action: Indonesia Simple Solution for Drinking Water
Makes Big Difference, March 2006, Available online:
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Appropriate_technology&action=edit
(accessed on August 26, 2010).
[3] Darrow Ken, Saxenian Mike, Appropriate Technology Sourcebook: Introduction, Village Earth,
Colorado, Available online:
http://www.villageearth.org/pages/Appropriate_Technology/ATSourcebook/Introduction.php
(accessed on 26th August, 2010).
[4] Prodjopangarso Haardjoso, 2009, The Traditional Technology Area, Local Wisdom Inspiring
Global Solution World Conference, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta
[5] SEA-UEMA Project, 2008, Technical Manual of Sanitation System for Small Community, Asian
Institute of Technology, Thailand, August
[6] Waterplant Community UGM, 2008, Project Report of Tripikon-S Installation in Uluwatu,
Palembang City, October

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