Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the practices and challenges of Potable Water Supply in
the Bonga Town Administration in Kaffa Zone. To this end, a cross-sectional descriptive survey
design was employed and a purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample kebeles
and community members. From probability sampling, the study was used systematic sampling to
identify respondents from three kebeles of town administration. Accordingly, questionnaire were
distributed to 204 heads of households, 7 interview participants’ and 3 Focus Group discussions
in three kebeles were taken as participants of this study. Consequently, the main findings of the
study indicated that: the supply and distribution of potable water in the study area are
insufficient. Because the perception of the respondents on the issue is almost negative.
Regarding the major challenges that affecting supply and distribution of potable water supply in
the study area; the findings of the study showed that shortage of budget, corrupted behaviors of
officials, the technical problem of water service office workers, insufficiency of municipality
office support and low public participation, weak political leadership, the bureaucracy of
officials, improper plan of budget, the topography of the area is not suitable and population
increase and lack of active project planner in the area were the reasons water service office was
not able to overcome the potable water. The study was concluded that in Bonga town
administration the challenges of water supply were many. The causes for these challenges were
related to socio-cultural, economic, and political factors. It was concluded that the total of these
challenges affected the sustainable use of water in the area. Finally, the researcher suggested
that to improve the challenges of water supply in the study area, water service officials jointly
with the municipality are expected to plan the project and search sponsors and allocate a
sufficient budget to solve the problem of supply and distribution. To sum up, committed political
leadership, public discussion and mobilization, prioritization of the problem, effective budget
planning, and creating awareness to the public to use current water resources efficiently were
suggested
