Abstract:
Failure to maintain access to clean water is one of the key problems in developing countries,
including Ethiopia. Although government and humanitarian organizations have made notable
attempts to address the shortage of access to potable water, cooperative efforts are still
demanding to improve clean water coverage in rural areas. In connection to above stated
problem, this study aims to assess the challenges and opportunities of community managed
rural potable water supply system in selected rural kebeles of Wolmera woreda of Oromia
region, Ethiopia. For this, mixtures of quantitative and qualitative research methods were
used. Hence a total of 121 households were randomly selected and interviewed by using a
semi structured questionnaire. In addition, qualitative data were collected through focus
group discussions and key informants’ interview. The primary data were also substantiated
by field observation and from review of different secondary data sources. The data analysis
was carried out using a descriptive statistical analysis based on frequencies and percentages.
The survey result revealed that a combination of technical, institutional, social,
environmental, and financial factors are the major elements which need to be considered to
ensure sustainability and functionality of community managed rural water supply systems.
The study recommends that the major factors influencing functionality of rural water supply
systems includes but not limited to, availability of enough water from the water supply
systems, availability of spare parts and proper community-based management. These
elements should be considered in the events of water supply systems development from
planning to post implementation stages. Hence, to enhance access to potable water supply in
rural areas it is important to ensure functionality of existing water supply systems than
focusing on construction of new schemes alone.
