Assessing Potable Water Supply and Distribution Problems of Rebu Gebeya Town, Amhara Region Ethiopia
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Date
2015-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Water is a vital element for the survival of the human race. Nevertheless, severe problems with
its provision are as old as mankind. The gap between water need and supply has widened
steadily in Ethiopia’s urban centers despite continuous efforts by the government in providing
potable water supply to the rapidly growing urban population. Similarly the study area, Rebu
Gebeya town was in the forefront of potable water supply and distribution problems. Thus, the
primary objective of this research is to assess water supply and distribution of Rebu Gebeya
town focusing on assessing the existing water supply, distribution progress and level of people
participation and investigating the major challenges of water supply and distribution and to see
the effects of water supply shortages in the study area. In order to achieve these objectives the
researcher applied descriptive survey research method. The researcher applied both probability
and non-probability sampling technique to obtain the samples of households and others. Both
primary and secondary sources of data were collected for study. These were analyzed via
qualitative and/or quantitative methods, as appropriate, of data analysis methods. The study
indicated that the town has very low water supply coverage and there was no additional water
supply service for the Town dwellers after 2009 and various factors such as population growth
and urbanization, lack of technological capacity, insufficient financial resource, insufficient
water resources, weak sector coordination and topography of the area were interacting factors
to the very low water supply coverage. The town dwellers faced water related health problems
caused by both water-washed diseases and risks arising from waterborne infections, and
community participation in the water supply and distribution schemes was inadequate. Safe and
adequate quantity of drinking water is an essential input for life. However, the efforts made by
the state government and other organizations have not been enough in covering all habitations
of Rebu Gebeya town. The current level of potable water supply and distribution coverage and accessibility in Rebu Gebeya town is very low in any standards. Thus, to overcome the problems of existing water supply and distribution, there should be an urgent need for planned action to manage urban water resources and construction of additional water sources and simultaneously improving the current coverage of private pipe water distribution and also public fountains in favor of the lower income groups
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Geography and Environmental Studies