ASSESSMENT OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION IN RURAL AREA OF MISRAK BADWACHO WOREDA, HADIYA ZONE, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Providing access to safe water and sanitation to combat poor health is an integral part of the strategy to alleviate poverty in many countries and the sustainability of both sanitation and water schemes are basic requirement for development. The overall aim of the study is to assess water supply and sanitation and its challenges in rural area of Misrak Badawacho woreda. Questionnaires of both closed and open ended, field visit, documents review, FGD and key informants interview were used. Out of the total kebeles 10% were selected and samples were collected based on random sampling statistical technique. As found out according to the study, more than 63.53% of the community were walking more than the standard time of WHO, 64.7% of the community were unsatisfactory on water supply service, daily demand of water were only 5.97L/c/d, the actual water demand were only 1122.658m3/day but the required demand were 4701m3/day and the water coverage were only 29.85%. Unfair distribution of the schemes and HH size are also the other factors for low water consumption pd/cp. As found, the factors for sustainability of water schemes are technical factors such as absence of community participation during technology selection, absence of spare part, low quality of spare part, poor managements of both schemes and financial system. In addition to this water quality is also another factor such as pH and high concentration of manganese. All the water in the study area is corrosive due to low pH that ≥7. As found in the study area 95.3% of the community have latrine but 70.6% are unusable manner because the latrines have no proper privacy and improper for setting, 9.4% have no roof and wall, open defecation were become 35.3% in the area and only 15.3% of latrines have closed wall and roof. The other factor is cultural factors which increase open defecation. According to water quality test 80% of the water supply systems were contaminated by disease causing bacteria, there is no chlorination program of water schemes and most areas are affected by high fluoride concentration. Due to this in the study area UAP target is missed, schemes are exposed for non functionality, the clean water supply systems are not improved due to quality problem and communities are still using unimproved sanitation facilities. To overcome such problems, rehabilitation of existing system, expansion of on spot water supply systems, investigations additional water sources to increase the amount water production and minimize traveling distance. Increasing community participation, improving management system and using corrosion resistant pipes and rods increases sustainability of the water schemes. To improve water quality problems disinfection of water source, and investigation of alternative treatment method of fluoride and water sources with low fluoride are better. Working on improvement of rural sanitation facilities and using alternative means of latrine construction to minimize cultural factors in the study area.