HYDRAULIC PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND OPERATION OF WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES IN DAMOT GALE, WOLAITA ZONE IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Water is one of the most essential commodities of every living being in the world. Failure to maintain access to sufficient and clean water is one of the key problems in developing countries, including Ethiopia. The aim of the research is to analyse hydraulic performance evaluation and operation of water supply schemes in Damot gale Woreda, Wolaita Zone Southern Ethiopia Region. For conducting this study, both primary and secondary data were collected and tools such as Water GEMS, GIS and GPS were used. Water GEMS was used for evaluation of hydraulic performance of the schemes. Two sources show 13.33% of nodes were with pressure below allowable limit, 46.7% of nodes were with pressure with acceptable limit and 40.0% of nodes where with pressure greater than allowable limit. The head loss of the scheme shows that 17% of pipes were with head loss below allowable limit, 21.5% of pipes were with head loss with acceptable limit and 61.5% of pipes where with head loss greater than allowable limit. The analysis showed that average per capital domestic water consumption was 20.78 /c/day. Hence, this result indicates there is a big gap between demand and supply. Generally, the result of the analysis showed that, the overall hydraulic performance of water distribution of the study area was poor and, it is therefore significant to improve the water distribution system capacities, changing the diameter of the pipe to get the proper level of pressure and velocity. Among the total schemes 108, 25 schemes were non- functional and the rest 83 schemes were functional. The assessment result showed that 76.85% of schemes are functional. For instance, the rate of non-functionality of hand dug well was 80% and the main cause's non-functionality account 31.25% for yield (quantity). 28.57% of the respondent stated there is great problem of appropriate operation and maintenance, 28.57% of the respondent shows there is lack of post construction support, 19.05% replied is lack of appropriate and timely spare part. Beside 9.52% shows lack of accountability, transparency, financial skill and conflict management technique and finally 4.76% lack of developed rules for service. The driving factors for non-functionality were prioritized from top to bottom as; poor management, weak institutions, a shortage of spare parts, and a lack of funding respectively.