Preferences and valuation of small-scale wastewater treatment system maintenance using discrete choice method: Case of community-managed system in Jakarta, Indonesia

The focus of public service delivery on sustainability and universal access has enabled the enactment of many community-based programs in Indonesia. However, relevant studies that examine the willingness to pay among households that utilize community-managed facilities are lacking, despite it being one of the most important factors for maintenance and a strong indicator of commitment. In the present study, we aimed to estimate household users' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) to understand their demand for related services. It estimates household user preferences and willingness to pay to understand the demand for related services through a choice experiment. By comparing all service attributes, the results highlight that users derive the highest utility if they updated reactors and pipelines, and, conversely, if the responsible authority is changed. The desire for quality improvement and service expansion were confirmed using this model. The mixed model estimated a willingness to pay of 0.03-3.13 USD for average users, depending on the attributes. Our findings confirm that families who belong to a community that operates a decentralized system derive greater benefits from improved maintenance; thus, they are willing to pay more to enjoy the service. Notably, at its core, a community-managed system, such as the Sanimas Program, is a co-production initiative between multiple levels of government institutions and local residents. Therefore, maintenance actions should involve resource- and payment-intensive efforts, such as half-year sanitary desludging and system replacement owing to deterioration and hazards. Policy regulations that correct the distribution of roles among partners for maintaining the system should be initiated. These findings provide evidence for the government's commitment to the community and could help convince other stakeholders to redirect their attention to supporting sustainable system performance.