A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF HYDRAULIC AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING, ARBA MINCH WATER TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENTS OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING

Abstract

Providing safe and reliable drinking water is one of the major challenges facing urban areas in developing countries. In Hargeisa, Somaliland, rapid population growth combined with financial and technical limitations has hindered the ability to meet the increasing demand for water. This study aims to evaluate water supply coverage and water losses in Hargeisa’s water distribution network using a combination of field data and hydraulic modeling. Data collection was conducted through field surveys carried out in October 2024.The study utilized WaterGEMS software to simulate the water distribution network and Water Audit software to estimate water losses. The hydraulic model was calibrated by adjusting parameters such as pipe roughness and nodal demands until the simulated pressures and flows closely matched measured data, achieving a mean absolute error of 0.964 meters. Validation was performed with an independent dataset to confirm model reliability. Nonetheless, the results are constrained by the limited availability of reliable flow and pressure data, which may affect their generalizability. Findings indicate that the average daily water consumption per person in Hargeisa is only 9.2 liters, which is substantially below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended minimum of 50 liters and the typical 20–100 liters reported in developing countries. This highlights severe water supply limitations with significant implications for public health and equity. Approximately 70% of the population is covered by the water supply system, while water losses amount to about 30.14% of total water produced. Key issues include physical leakage, pipe bursts, faulty meters, unauthorized connections, aging infrastructure, and insufficient maintenance. Additionally, uneven pressure distribution causes frequent pipe failures in some areas, while other parts of the network experience low pressure and velocities, leading to unreliable service delivery. Policy and engineering recommendations derived from the study include the installation of pressure reducing valves (PRVs), rehabilitation of boreholes, improvements in flow control, and phased upgrades of infrastructure. These measures are expected to reduce water losses and enhance the reliability of the system. The findings contribute to improving urban water system planning in water-scarce regions such as Somaliland and provide an evidence-based framework for prioritizing interventions, investment, and regulation to promote sustainable and equitable water access