Davina Boyd

Constructed wetlands have long been internationally recognized as a simple biological wastewater treatment system, but their recognition is limited in Indonesia. To encourage the use of this technology a full-scale constructed wetland using local reeds and treating effluent from a septic tank was designed and constructed with local participants. This initiative was the result of the Sustainable Sanitation and Wetland Technology (SSWT) Project which was a capacity development initiative aimed at improving Indonesian capacity in sanitation. The program combined theory and practice; the participants were provided with information about sustainable sanitation, constructed wetlands and awareness raising methods. At the same time, participants gained practical experience in constructing a wetland and raising awareness of sanitation. The design and delivery of this SSWT Project was based on the application of an emerging Framework for Capacity Development. This Framework was developed as part of an ongoing research project into improving capacity development practice. In this chapter, both the technological and sociological aspects of constructed wetlands and their effectiveness in terms of providing successful sanitation outcomes in Indonesia are presented.