In Indonesia the sanitary problem is economic as well as social.

It is estimated that Indonesia loses US$6.3 billion per year or 2.3% of GDP because of poor sanitation across the country.

There is an absence of investment in the sanitation sector, with only 2% of urban sewage in Indonesia treated.

The country has the lowest percentage of urban sewage treatment among other countries in the region, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, and of the 200,000 children that die in East Asia as a result of waterborne illness, at least half are Indonesian.

It is thought that as many as 70% of water supplies in Jakarta are polluted by E.coli bacteria as many septic tanks are located too close to wells.