Abstract:
Water is life in general and potable water in particular is essential for life, health and
human dignity. Access to water is a fundamental need and constitutes one of the most
important human rights. But most rural areas in the developing world and in hilly and
mountainous regions suffer from acute shortage of water both in quantity and quality.
This study was carried out to assess the challenges and opportunities of rural water
supply in Elfeta district.The study was conducted in two purposely selected village of
Elfeta District. A combined research approach (quantitative and qualitative methods)
was employed and both primary and secondary data were collected. The study is based
on primary data collected from 137 samples selected at random using questionnaire.
Additional information was also obtained from focus group discussion, key informant
interview and personal observation. The data has been analyzed by descriptive statistics
using SPSS software. Qualitative data were used to substantiate the responses of
questionnaire. This result obtained from the study shows that people are very aware of
the benefits of using water from developed (clean water) source. That is why the majority
of them are fetching water from developed water sources by traveling out of their
community.The respondents have stated that the existence and practice of community
participation in their respective community.The challenges of water supply and
distribution in the study area are population growth and urbanization, lack of
technological capacity insufficient financial resource; insufficient water resources, weak
sector coordination and topography of the areaLack of Training to Water Committees
and Households in the Study Area and Lack of appropriate mechanism for monitoring
and evaluating the implementation of water supply strategic plan at district level,were
the major ones.The study recommended that toaddress the problem organizational frame
work, human power situation with respect to total required personnel, budget situation
and material resources of the office should be managed properly
