Abstract
The development of infrastructure is fundamental to economic growth and development of countries. The objective of this study was to assess the serviceability of water supply & its infrastructure and associated challenges for providing safe drinking water in Ethiopia-Gimbi town. The research design was descriptive type and the related data was both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was obtained from sample of 219 households, 7 officials and professionals of water office. Samples were drawn, using simple random from the sample frame. Moreover, the water supply infrastructure were observed and photographed and included. Analyses were done by using SPSS and presented by percentage, tables, and charts. The study has confirmed that Gimbi town is facing water supply service problem. The survey result showed that the water produced only covers 30.39% of the demand. Even if private meter connection is taken as best standards of water supply, the connection for residential consumer is only 22.57%. Furthermore, all areas could not get equal and proportional service. As a result, they are exposed to unprotected sources. The cumulative effect of the existing situations decreased the daily average consumption of pipe water to 6.08 liters per person per day. The study also identified population growth, inadequate source, frequent interruption, unaccounted-for water (41.25%), lack of sufficient funding and capacity, lack of standby diesel generator and limited stakeholders’ participation as challenges. The paper recommends interventions to overcome water scarcity. These include: exploring additional source, redesigning distribution system, encouraging capacity building for staffs, having standby diesel generator, carrying out appropriate operation and maintenance, introducing rainwater harvesting program, launching appropriate water infrastructural assets management, using water reservoir, promoting stakeholders’ participation to improve the problems. Keywords : Accessibility; Affordability; Adequate Water Supply; Infrastructure; Interruption; Meter Connection; Pipe Water; Safe Drinking Water; Unaccounted-for Water. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/11-5-02 Publication date: May 31 st 2021
Highlights
The development of infrastructure is a fundamental precursor to economic growth and development
With regard to the age distribution, 30.9% of the HHs were the age between 18-30 years, 44.3% of the respondents were between 31- 45 years and 24.3% of them were between 46-64 years, whereas, 0.5% respondents were above 65 years old
Concerning the household size, 49.32% (108) had family size ranging from 2-5, 44.69% (101) were in the range 6-9 household size, 3.65% (8) have confirmed their family size 10-13 and the rest 0.91% (2) had household size more than 13, the mean size of the family is 5.56 persons (Table 4.6). With reference to their educational level, 25.57 % (56) of the respondents are grouped in the range between 1st-8th class, 40.71 % (92) of them were between 9th-12th class, 11.42 % (25) of them were certificate holders, 19.18% (42) of them were diploma and above holders, while 1.83 % (4) of them were illiterate
Summary
The development of infrastructure is a fundamental precursor to economic growth and development. Water is a precious natural resource, vital for life, development and for the environment. It is one of the relatively few items that people take into their bodies each day in order to stay alive. It can be an instrument for economic survival and growth, and for poverty alleviation. Effective and efficient provision of sufficient potable water supply is one of the basic services, which highly affects the economic progress and the health of the world’s people (Le Gouais & Wach, 2013). As a result of this, its availability, accessibility and affordability for the entire population are of enormous importance
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