Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to investigate problems and prospects of domestic water supply
in Kombolcha town. In order to achieve the research objectives, primary data were collected
from 179 randomly selected households and 12 respondents purposively selected from three
offices for interview purpose and 14 respondents of two target group for focus group
discussion. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected using questionnaires,
interviews, focus group discussion and field observation. The collected data were analyzed
using descriptive statistics and inferential statistic. The study confirmed that in Kombolcha
town water supply service could not cover the demand of households at existing capacity. The
result obtained indicated that the major factors attributed to lower supply of water are rapid
population growth (29.6%), scarcity at source(35.2%), frequent seasonal interruption during
dry season (83.8%), lack of institutional capacity (4.5%), limited budget (64.8%); low
coordination and participation of stake holders (23.5%), made the provision of water supply
services difficult in the area. As a result (68.6%) of the respondents have used water from
alternatives sources (Spring River, river ponds, and streams). Although, safe and adequate
quantity of drinking water is an essential in put for life; however, the efforts made by the state
government have not been enough in addressing all households of Kombolcha town. Thus, to
narrow the existing gap between water demand and supply, there should be an urgent need for
planed action to construct additional water supply and simultaneously improving the current
coverage of private pipe water distribution in the study
