Urban Poor Residents and Water Accessibility: The Case of Addis Ketema Subcity
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Addis Ababa although is the major urban center in Ethiopia, it has lower potable
water and proper sanitation service even by sub-sharan standard. Lower income
level is sited the major factor for this as the poor doesn't afford private water
connections. An overview of urban poverty in Addis Ababa shows that the poor is
not only inaccessible to private connection but also consumes less. AA WSA
(2005), states that only 4 percent of Addis Ababa residents have house
connection and consume 80-100 litters of water per person daily.
The research under the topic at hand explores water sources utilized and
consumption level of low-income residents of Addis leetema Sub-city. For this
purpose, 384 households from three leebels of the sub-city were selected for the
survey. The result of the study shows that the urban poor use less convenient
sources of water and also consume less than the minimum s tandard set by WHO.
The study found out that 232(60.42 percent} out 384 households earn monthly
income of Birr 600.00 of these 65.94% households use water sources such as
yard connection shared tabs, public fountains and water from vendors. The
average households' consumption is 11.23 litters of water per day ( by half lower
than WHO's minumum satndard). The major factor attributed to such lower
accessibility in both terms is mainly household income in the study area. Apart
from this water problems such as frequent and sever interruption, unaffordable
connection charges, expensive tariff and etc adversely affected the lives of the
residents in general and the poor in particular.
Concerning policy issues urban water supply policy is neither formulated
independently nor is addressed comprehensively in the existing water supply
policy. The existing areas concerning the urban setting in the policy lacles pro poor
elements in terms of enabling the poor to get access to private meter connection
as well as to afford the tariff set for water supply in urban areas where the tariff
bases on full cost recovery method and also is progressive.
Key words: water accessibility, distribution, supply and consumption, meter
connection, household income, water sources and etc.
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Keywords
water accessibility