Jakarta. The Citywide Inclusive Sanitation Project, currently in progress in Mataram, Pontianak, and Semarang, will receive a $419.6 million (Rp 6.6 trillion) loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Jiro Tominaga, ADB's Director in Indonesia, said the project aims to strengthen the sanitation system for around 2.5 million people in the three cities.

"This project is one of the largest inclusive sanitation projects in Indonesia supported by ADB to date, aligning with our initiatives to address climate change," Jiro said in an official statement on Wednesday.

According to ADB, approximately 77 percent of households in Indonesia have access to basic sanitation facilities such as septic tanks, but only 7 percent have access to safely managed sanitation that ensures the proper disposal of household waste to wastewater treatment plants.

According to ADB, the inadequate wastewater disposal systems in many households make them vulnerable to issues such as flooding, groundwater contamination, and environmental and health risks.

The project is designed based on the principles of citywide inclusive sanitation, ensuring that everyone has access to appropriately managed sanitation services by integrating wastewater and non-wastewater systems.

"ADB is pleased to continue working with Indonesia to expand access to better sanitation services, which is key to a healthy and productive population," said Jiro.