RURAL POTABLE WATER SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION PATTERN: THE CASE OF JAMA WOREDA, SOUTH WOLLO ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Potable water supply in Jama woreda is significantly challenged depending on water accessibility to the rural population. Based on this, the present study is aimed to assessing rural potable water supply and consumption pattern in Jama woreda, south wollo zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The objectives of the study to assess the major rural potable water sources, determine the factors affect water consumption, assessing the main challenges of potable water supply and management system of rural potable water supply. To achieve these objectives used descriptive research design, and select three kebele of the study area of Jama woreda, using purposive sampling techniques and the researcher used primary and secondary data sources. Primary data sources were from respondents and secondary data sources also from woreda water office to get number of water point and number of people served. After collecting the data, the researcher is used descriptive statistics to analysis number of water point and people access to potable water supply, challenge and management system and used correlation and multiple linear regressions to analyze water consumption and its determinants. The researcher used quantitative and qualitative data, to analyze primary data sources. These research concluded that, Potable water supply and consumption pattern in Jama woreda, Abold, shilafaf and yedo kebele water supply had no access to all people who live in these kebele. Household average quantity of water usage per capita per day revealed that 64 (32.7%) respondents use less than15liter. The major potable water sources were in Abold shilafaf and yedo kebele 83.7% were surface water (river, spring and public hand dug well) constitute (66.7%). The challenges of rural potable water supply were amount of water quantity per household member, increase household size and insufficient water point facilities. 90% of the respondents need 41-60 minute to fetch water and come back to their home. The result indicated that the variable (Family size, income, distance, time spent to fetch, age and education level) significantly and positively influenced household per capita water consumption. Water use committee and employing guard management system of potable water management system constitute 80% of respondent. Therefore, in the study area potable water and consumption pattern should be the main concern for ever body