Abstract:
Water is the most important natural resource for human being. It is essential to sustain the life of
people and adequate supply to all people contributes a lot for the health of peoples. The increasing
water demand and lack of access to water sources have adversely affected the lives of billions of
people in developing countries. This study was initiated to identify the status of clean water
availability, the determinant factors of water supply and demand in Gida Ayana and Jangir towns in
Gida Ayana wereda in East wellega zone. Multistage sampling techniques were applied to select 377
households under cross sectional survey design. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected by
using questionnaire and interview. Descriptive and inferential data analysis methods were employed
and multiple regression model was employed to analyze the major determinants of water demand and
supply. The result from the study showed that there are water inaccessibility problem in the towns in
that more than half of sampled households collect water from more than 1km and they spend at least
10 minute. Water inaccessibility leads to health problem and household economic status. Tap water,
springss and river are the major sources of water for the residents of towns. From the result of the
model family size, household income and house ownership status has positive /direct relationship
with water demand and supply. On the other hand educational status and distance of household from
water source has negative relationship with water demand and supply. As education level increases
wise use water would be there this reduces water consumption per day per individual and household.
Generally it can be concluded that water inaccessibility problems are experiencing in the study area
and the problems are adopted from the factors such as household income, family size, education level
and distance from the source of water and house ownership. Therefore, concerning bodies such as
government organization, NGOs and private institution should have to intervene to solve
inaccessibility problem in the study areas.
