Factors affecting the sustainability of rural water supply system: A Case study on Basona Worana Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Many water supply schemes have failed to deliver the intended benefits and many water facilities are not operating well. In Ethiopia 33% of the rural water supply schemes are nonfunctional due to lack of funds for operation and maintenance, inadequate community mobilization and commitment, as well as lack of spare parts (ADF, 2005). The report from Amhara Region Water Resources Development Bureau also shows that 25% of schemes in rural areas of the region are not functional (Tigst, 2014). Despite the reports, less is known about the reasons or factors that contributed to problem. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify factors that affect the sustainability of rural water supply system in Basona worena Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. According to the Woreda Administration Office the Woreda has five clusters. All rural Kebeles of the Woreda are characterized by similar cultural settings and socio-economy conditions except the Woreda Kebeles clusters. Out of 30 Kebeles of the Woreda 30% or 9 Kebeles were selected as a sample. According to the above clusters the sampled Kebeles was selected from one up to three Kebeles randomly. From each sampled Kebeles, two villages were selected by simple random sampling techniques and also the water supply systems samples were selected one for each district village. 15 % of the total numbers of households have been selected as a sample size of the total Households. The data was collected from primary and secondary data source. After sorting out the effective data, the numerical portion of the data was analyzed using SPSS software ,Excel software, charts and tables, whereas the word portion was digested from all the FGD check list notes and questions from the questionnaires. The study results show that there were socioeconomic factors, institutional factors, environmental factors, technical factors, financial factors and lack of community participations were found to be the problems for sustainability of rural water supply on the study area. The communities have actively participated during constriction but in the management of water point is weak. Active participation of the community in all aspects before, during and after project implementation is a strong indication of sustainability of water supply systems