Assessment of Challenges for Design and Construction of Rural Water Supply Projects: A Case Study of East Belessa Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Water is life and especially potable water is essential for life and health. So, access to drinking water, improves overall socio-economic and environmental existence. Numerous schemes have been planned and implemented, but only a portion of these schemes continue to provide water to the communities that they were intended to serve due to the problems caused by poor design and construction work. The aim of this study is to assess the challenges for design and construction of rural water supply projects. To this end, the study was undertaken in 30 existed and newly constructed water supply schemes among rural communities in East Belessa woreda. The study was conducted by applying both qualitative and quantitative method. The most common challenge investigated in the design of rural water supply projects were constructing of rural water supply points without checked the water yield of the schemes. Due to this only some of the schemes were flow throughout the year but most of the schemes flow intermittently. As a result at the end of the year especially from April to mid-June the available quantity of water become very low after fetching of almost 10-15 plastic pots (200-300 liters). So that the communities are searching another source by traveling long distance or fetching river water for drinking and cooking purposes. On the other hand 53% of the developed springs were decreased their flow rates during construction. This was due to blocking of the spring eye and improper collection of the eye during construction period. The other major cause for the reduction of flow rate was seeping of collected water through the cracks and the base (foundation) of the spring box due to construction of spring box structure on loss (unconsolidated) foundation, using of poor quality of construction materials and lack of regular follow up. In general, the findings on assessment of challenges for design and construction of rural water supply projects in the study area reflect a critical situation. Therefore, it is important to establish a design and construction standards (methods) depending on the reality of the Woreda.