Evaluation On The Existing Drainage Condition Of Jimma Town

Abstract

Drainage is one of the most important factors to be considered in the road design, construction and maintenance projects. It is generally accepted that road structures work well and last longer to give the desired service. When a road fails, whether it is concrete, asphalt or gravel, inadequate drainage is often a major factor to be considered. Jimma town is well accessed throughout the year by an asphalted road and it is among the old cities of Ethiopia having vibrant economic activity based on cash crop namely coffee. Currently, the town is experiencing development of infrastructures (mainly roads) and the preparation of modern drainage design should be seen in line with the overall development endeavor of the municipal administration. Objective of the project is to evaluate the performances of the existing drainage structures and propose mitigation measures. The project was conducted based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected through field assessment using different approaches. Secondary data were obtained through review of reports and graphic documents produced by the municipal administration as well as relevant stakeholders. The drainage issue, associated with urban wastes (both liquid and solid), have become among the most critical agenda of the town causing both physical and sanitation problems. The physical problem is associated with inundation and eventual destruction of personal and public properties; whereas the sanitation problem, resulted from absence of proper management of urban wastes (household and commercial), is posing serious health threat like malaria and other water-borne diseases on citizens of the town. Due to large volume of water from the highland catchment areas of the town, the natural water ways couldn’t carry the incoming runoff, particularly during rainy seasons, and as a result causing inundation in some parts of the town especially in the Merkato (market area), high ground water table condition around genu to ajip and other low laying areas causing severe damage to property. In order to minimize these negative impacts improvement in the integration of road and water drainage infrastructure and integrated solid waste management to prevent over flowing of flood as a result of blockage of drains