Solutions for urban sanitation: A case study of Imhoff tank technology in Bandung, Dutch East Indies (1917‒1938)

Abstract

This research investigates how municipalities managed wastewater in the Dutch East Indies in the early 20th century. We focus on Bandung, one of the most important cities in the Dutch East Indies, which transformed into a modern residential area, economic center, and seat of government. This research combines primary data from written sources and field observations using historical-archaeological methods. The written sources include official reports from the Public Works Department, Civil Health Department, Bandung City Council, old maps, sewer network designs, environmental engineering journals, and newspapers published from 1909 to 1941. Using the techno-environmental approach introduced by Martin V. Melosi, this study considers urban technology as a strategic response by decision-makers to address the challenges faced by developing cities in the early 20th century. The study reveals that Bandung City faced environmental problems, such as the natives' habit of defecating in rivers and open spaces, spreading diseases, and potentially polluting river water. These problems arose due to the lack of sanitation facilities and the densely populated settlements, especially in the native and Chinese residential areas. To address these challenges, policymakers, environmental engineers, and researchers initiated the design and implementation of sewers, public toilets, and wastewater treatment plants in 1917. The Municipality integrated sewers with the Imhoff Tank sewage treatment technology developed by researchers and engineers from 1932 to 1938 to introduce circular sewage treatment. Imhoff Tanks was a significant technological innovation in the Dutch East Indies. In the early 20th century, only a handful of cities in the Dutch East Indies, including Bandung, Medan, and Yogyakarta, had integrated sewer networks. Among the cities that did have sewer networks, Bandung pioneered the implementation of the Imhoff Tank. As a result, it emerged as an important laboratory and development center for Bandung and the entire Dutch East Indies. The Imhoff Tank treatment process, which produces clean water, fertilizer, and methane gas that can be used as vehicle fuel, was part of a proactive strategy pioneered by policymakers in Bandung in the early 20th century, reflecting their vision to create a healthy and sustainable city.