ASSESMENT OF CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL WATER SUPPLY: THE CASE OF GAMBELLA ZURIA WOREDA, GAMBELLA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Sustainability of water supplies is a key challenge both in terms of water resources and service delivery. Furthermore, it is the key to identify what enables a water scheme to remain operational over a long period of time. Consequently, the objective of this study was to identify the main challenges of sustainable rural water supply systems by evaluating and comparing functional and non-functional systems. The study was carried out in Gambella Zuria Woreda located in West of Gambella town, Gambella Region, Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data sources were carefully examined. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used to analyze the data. Score matrix, questionnaire, and focus group discussions were among the selected methods. Water quality testing was done to examine suitability of water sources. The result obtained from tested parameters indicated that except the pH and F values, all parameters values are out of the World health organizations (WHO) standards for drinking water. The parameter values were found to be in the range of pH (6.9- 8.0), Turbidity (2.21-15 NTU), EC (495 – 1123.00 μS/cm), TDS (230-1300 mg/L), TH (183-913.0 mg/L), Fe2+ (0.06-0.67 mg/L), Fluoride (0.11- 1.21mg/l), Ca2+ (5.3-78.00 mg/L) and Mg2+ (13-98.30 mg/L). Additionally, the overall quality of the groundwater low in the sampled sites of the study area and this situation needs urgent and strategic solutions. From this study all the water schemes non-sustainability problems are low water quality, lack of proper operation and maintenance, weak management which resulted in the Woreda’s inability to achieve full coverage of the rural population with safe water services. On the other hand, the finding of this research show that, 45% of functional water supply schemes and 23% of nonfunctional water supply schemes respondents said that the collected water tariff cover the operation and maintenance cost of water supply schemes, and 35% of functional water supply schemes and 86% of nonfunctional water supply schemes respondents responded have problem of ability to pay water tariff. Therefore, regular maintenance of water schemes, awareness creation of the water users, training of water point committees and follow up to the community by the water Bureau of the Wereda can be a better solution to solve the problem before it gets worse