EVALUATION OF THE SUSTAINIBLITY OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES: A CASE OF BAMBASI WOREDA

Abstract

Water is essential for all lives on earth and is a basic component of sustainable development and growth. Government and Non-governmental organizations have been implemented water projects to promote safe water supply to the rural communities. However, in most project areas, there is lack of sustainability of the water supply systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sustainability of rural water supply schemes in Bambasi Woreda along with triggering factors. Keshemando 1, Dabous, Village 48 and Village 16 Keble's were selected for the study. Due to, inaccessibility of infrastructure and poorly managed. The study employed descriptive survey design. The target population of this study is 1560 household. Random sampling was used in this study. Through random sampling, 122 households were selected for the study. Primary data for the study was collected using qualitative an quantitative (focus group dissection, key informant, field and observation structured questionnaires) that were administered to the respondents by the researcher. The findings of the study indicate that community participation, technical aspect, water point management practices and community training do influence sustainability of community water supply schemes. It was also found out that the sustainability of water supply scheme is assessed by using multi criteria analysis approach. Based on the general condition of the water supply scheme, technical, financial, social and institutional and there sub factor are weighted and evaluated by simple additive weighting method. Finally, the sustainability index value has been classified in three classes where, six water points belongs to poor sustainable class, four has partial sustainable and the remaining two has sustainable class. The study recommends that community participation in the whole project cycle should be enhanced, the involvement of donors have great importance to the local people and administration bodies, however it would be good if the users empowered to operate their own system and supplied water schemes maintenance tools within their own shop and maintenance center or provide the schemes spare parts with in the vicinity by assigning a revolving fund .