Evaluation Of The Sustainability Of Rural Water Supply System The Case Of Dabat Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethioipia

Abstract

Ethiopia is situated at the area where the weather is complimented with relatively higher amount of rainfall. This has given the country with enormous water resource potential. Sustainability of water supplies is a key challenge, in terms of both water resources and service delivery. The United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that one third of rural water supplies in sub-Saharan Africa are nonoperational at any given time. The objective of this study is to assess the factors affecting the sustainability of rural water supply system in Dabat woreda rural areas by evaluating and comparing functional and non-functional systems. The study was carried out in Dabat Woreda located in North Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. A total of 366 water supply schemes were constructed. Fromthese water points, 269 were functional and 97 were non functional water supply points. In four kebeles from112 water supply schemes Seventy six (thirty-eight functional and thirty-eight non-functional) among these systems were selected by simple random method. A household survey concerning the demand responsiveness of projects, water use practices, construction quality and their level of satisfaction was conducted at 380 households. The result shows that differences between the functional and non-functional system was the involvement of the local leaders. In the functional systems, 45% of the local leaders were involved in the initiation of site selection of the water points while 53% the local leaders involved in site selection for the nonfunctioning systems. According to the assessment of respondent’s perception of the participation of women in water development process and water committee, more than 57% of the respondents in functional and 69% of respondents in non-functional systems are not members of the water committee. The field survey shows that 62% of functional WSPs were initially fenced. In nonfunctional systems, only 25% were fenced. Respondents confirmed that three-fourth of water points were never fenced and eventually became non-functional. In the functional system 54% of the respondents found construction quality of the system good, while 26% found them bad. For non-functional system, 31% of them well constructed while one fourth were considered poorly constructed. Because a larger percentage of respondents considered functional systems had good construction quality as compared to non-functional systems, poorly constructed scheme is more likely to become unsustainable.A general held belief that the community involvement during initiation and construction of the water supply system is most crucial factor in the success of a water supply system does not seem to be important factor in the study area. Instead, the organization of the community by having an effective local leader to interact with the contractor and Dabat personnel is important factor as well having the means to afford the payments for maintenance for a water supply system.The level of stakeholders’ participation in the project planning and implementation should be increased to enhance the sustainability of the water supply points in the county.