Situational Analysis Of Rural Water Supply Schemes: The Case Of Adama Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Reports showed that the rural water services in Ethiopia are non-functional due to lack of funds for operation and maintenance, inadequate community mobilization and commitment, as well as lack of spare parts. Despite the reports, less is known about the reason or factors that contributed to problem with full understanding that the factors could be different and complex. The objective of this study was to assess the situation of the rural water supply scheme in the Adama Woreda. To address the research objective: household surveys, field observation, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and relevant document reviews were analyzed. In addition, groundwater quality test was carried out for Bacteriological and for some important physicochemical parameters. Based on the study finding, currently safe drinking water access in the woreda out of the total population properly addressed only for 58.54% not addressed properly due to non-functionality for 17.07% and the remaining 24.39% was not addressed totally and option should be exploring for area not addressed totally by all concerning bodies. In the study area 12 (56%) and 4 (19%) schemes were function and non-function respectively, and also 48(68%) water points were properly functional, 11(15%) were semi functional and the remaining 12(17%) were nonfunctional, and absence of local technician, spare parts, power supply source and poor construction quality were main challenges of scheme functionalities but role of community participation have no negative impact in provision of water service level, and training for local technicians and spare parts supply by mechanism of revolving fund is be recommend to reduce the challenges. Physicochemical parameters test result shown that pH, Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solids, Turbidity and Total hardness value were within the recommended limit but Temperature and Fluoride value were out of the recommended limit of national and WHO drinking water standard, and further detail study is recommended for dilution process by integrating of the current schemes with other schemes coming by gravity expansion to overcome health risks. regarding Bacteriological test result Total coliform were within the recommended limit but faecal coliform was out of the recommended limit of national and WHO drinking water standard and chlorination is recommended to overcome this low-risk problem.