TECHNICAL SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS IN CASE OF DEBERE ELIAS WOREDA TECHNICAL SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY CASE OF DEBERE ELIAS WOREDA TECHNICAL SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY CASE OF DEBERE ELIAS WOREDA

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the problem of sustainability of rural water supply projects by focusing on technical, management and social aspects of the Deber Elias woreda. The study was concerned on investigating the gaps between the pre and post project conditions that are necessary for the sustainability of rural water supply service delivery. The study was carried out in four Kebeles of Deber Elias woreda. Seventy six water supply schemes were visited and survey was conducted on the water user of the Woreda. Out of this, 59 of the schemes were functional where as 17 were malfunctioned. The selection of the samples was based on simple stratified random sampling techniques of the total Kebeles. Therefore, among 32% of the Kebeles considered for the study, the two most common types of water supply schemes in rural part of the woreda were hand dug wells and spring development. Water supply service delivery in the sample projects was inadequate due to poor construction (31.6%), insufficient water quantity (13.8%), source of non-reliability (19.7%), lack of maintenance and spare parts (29.7%), lack of trained person (5.2%), attitudinal problem and other (19.7%). The per capita consumption of water in the Woreda is 10.25liters which is not sufficient and is below the standard amount. An average time spent to fetch water in a single trip is almost one hour also including the long queuing is above the standard time. This show how the community is seriously suffering from shortages of developed water points in the study area. The survey results about (56.8%) of the respondents are illiterate, (33.9%) of the households can read and write, (6.6%) of the households did not attended formal education, the rest (2.6%) attended school after grade ten. Based on the findings, The literacy level in the Woreda is low. This could be one of the main reason for poor management of rural water supply schemes. The quality of drinking water has polluted due to lack of fence (43%), wastewater from bathing and washing clothes (31%), groundwater contamination with toilet pit (12%), turbidity (6%), stagnant water (5%), and the rest (3%) taste and odor problems. The consequence of this is due to lack of maintenance. Therefore, proper construction, regular maintenance and control, working together with stockholders and creating awareness used as solution to mitigate the problem and sustainable use of water resources.