Challenges and Opportunities of Community Managed Rural Water Supply Schemes: The case of Walmara District, Finfine Special zone, Oromia Regional State

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.