Rural Water Supply Schemes Sustainability Assessment: A Case Of Habro District In Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Sustainability of rural water supply (RWS) projects, and the benefits they provide are highly topical issue in the RWS sector; as the second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) Ethiopia planned to put the nation at the level of the middle-income countries and new standard was formulated for the clean drinking water supply coverage. However, sustainability of rural water supply schemes is questionable. The objective of the study was to assess the sustainability of Habro District? RWS schemes, to understand the major causes of sustainability problem and to suggest the relevant remedial action. To explore the causes of the un sustainability, a Purposive survey was undertaken covering nine (9) selected Kebeles of the District. The sample sizes of 41 water schemes (deep well, shallow well and hand dug well), 46 water- points and160 households were considered using a combination of purposive and simple random techniques. Besides, qualitative data was collected through focused group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews. The FGDs involved water committee (water utility) members, selected women groups and kebele administration; and interviews were conducted with district Water Resource Office and world vision Ethiopia Habro area program heads and professional experts. Field observation and relevant document reviews on water source and water points schemes found in the selected kebele were the sources of the relevant information. Data collected were analyzed using mWater platform and SPSS version 27 statistical software. The result showed that the average sustainability score across water supply schemes was 4.64. This score indicated that the schemes were performing well on only 46.4 % of the system functionality and reliability, financial viability and cost recovery, water quality and quantity, community satisfaction and involvement and local governance and management. According to the district RWS schemes non-functionality rate assessment results, 37.5 % are functional, 35 % are partially functional and 27.5% not functional. For the water points, 59.8% are functional and 40.2% are not functional due to major rea sons of operation and maintenance problem, depth (seasonal) problem and pump failure. Thus, the high rate of non-functionality of the water supply schemes, is significantly affecting the water supply coverage of the wereda. District was impacted by factors such as local governance and administration, as well as a lack of community satisfaction and involvement. while system functionality and reliability, financial viability, and cost recovery had the most effects. Also, the community participants in schemes implementation, management and monitoring were bad and the ability of water committees to manage the schemes had poor. So, managing water schemes status to take immediate action using m Water technology and WASH business center was recommended. the WASH business center locates at the chosen area of center district kebele to water committee and water utility can access spare parts and these are the steps that need to be taken in order to improve the functionality as well as sustainability of rural water supply schemes