Semane, Belay (PhD)Mugoro, Tadele2018-10-022023-11-182018-10-022023-11-182008-07http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/12384Community managed rural water supply scheme is considered as one of the options for achieving sustainability of water supply services. International communities and donors are steering this concept. Recently, water schemes in rural areas are constructed either by the governmental or non-governmental organizations. However, frequency of non-junctionality increases from year to year and the users didn't get minimum standards service. The focus of this study is, therefore, to identify major challenges on the sustainability of water supply services in rural area. This study was conducted on water supply service for the communities where the schemes were functional and others scheme users when their scheme were not functional. Data was collected from water users, water management committees and Woreda water office through focus group discussions and interviews. A structured questionnaire was administered to 297 households heads. The data analyzed descriptively for qualitative; and usmg mean, average, standard de viation and percentage for quantitative. The result of the study revealed that the users from others neighbor functional schemes were relatively found to travel longer distance, take longer time to fetch water and low frequency in fetching water and low water consumption as compared with functional once. But the service level for both users were below (10 II c/ day for oth€1"S functional neighboring scheme and 11.111/ c/ day for functional) UPA recommended value (151/ c/ day) in water consumption and higher in traveling distance and time due to limited improved schemes with number of woreda population and area coverage, and absences of others source options. The result also shown that nonfunctionality of the schemes were mainly due to problems related with water and sanitation committees intuitional set up and financial management system on one hand and low stake holders participation in all phases of project on the other in most schemes. Therefore, this study recommended that, increasing service provision through expansion of the existing schemes, building capacity of water and sanitation committee and Woreda Water Office for appropriate management of the schemes and further strengthening the participation of stakeholdersenWater Supply ServicesThesis