Assessment of Factors Affecting Sustainability of Rural Water Supply Schemes: A Case Study of Lare District, Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Scheme sustainability is when water supply service is functioning, being used and is able to deliver an appropriate level of service in terms of quality, quantity, convenience, continuity and health to all. Having Sustainable Rural Water Supply schemes is so vital to sustain life for people living in the rural areas and their livestock. However, there is a problem of water sustainability in Lare district and there are factors that cause that problem. These different factors in the district affect water supply schemes for not being sustainable. This research gave an insight for local studies and investigations to understand how the rural water supply schemes of the study area perform under the local condition of planning, implementation, operation, maintenance and management. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to identify factors that affect the sustainability of rural water supply schemes since there are limited data available on water supply schemes sustainability in Lare district. Both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods were carried out. Primary data were collected through questionnaire, observation, and structured interview like key informant interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD). In selecting of respondents from Lare district’s Kebeles, Purposive Sampling Technique was used, and in selecting Villages and Rural water supply schemes, Probably Stratified Sampling Method was used since the Rural Kebeles were characterized by the same cultural settings and socio-economic conditions. Data were edited and coded before analysis then for analysis of data that were collected; both descriptive and inferential data analysis had been used. The quantitative data which were generated from household surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as standard deviation, mean, frequency/percentage and Pearson’s correlation. They were operated with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. The result was represented by tables, graphs and charts, and the word part was digested in narrative form. The finding indicated that 62.9% of respondents said there was an environmental problems due to flooding of the area during rainy season, 61.6% showed that there was lack of finance for operation and maintenance, 56% was due to lack of provision of spare parts and 65.7% was due to lack of local technicians. But according to AHP method, the dominant factor was technical factor followed by environmental factor. Stakeholders do not participate equally during planning of projects and some of stakeholders do not participate in all phases of projects. From functionality of rural water supply, the distance travelled to get drinking water was met by 23% of the population and the time taken on queue was met by 22% of the people living in the study area according to UAP for the year 2016-2020 G.C. The Pearson’s correlation between the number of jerry cans fetched and the amount of Birr paid have a statistically linear relationship with r=0.630 and p<0.001, the direction of their relationship is positively correlated and they do have strong correlation. The result has shown that there were problems on environmental, technical, financial, contribution of stakeholders and functionality of rural water supply. This problem needs further study to tackle the real situation of this District