EFFECT OF POPULATION GROWTH ON URBAN WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICESIN HOSSANA TOWN OF HADIYA ZONE, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT The mainpurpose of this study was to assess the effect of population growth on urban water supply infrastructure and services in the Hosanna town. Descriptive survey research design was employed to find strait of the problem and get scientific solution for water supply problems in Hosanna town. Primary data are collected from 101 Households selected randomly and 12 respondents purposively selected from four offices concerned with the problem of urban water supply infrastructure and services. The 12 respondents were interviewed to get in-depth information related to the problem. Descriptive statistics were employed as techniques of data analysis to assess the problems of water supply. The results showed that the major factors attributed to lower supply of water are shortage of portable water provision, high cost of piped water connection, poor coordination and participation of stakeholders, inadequate water supply infrastructure and services, unfair distribution of water, lack of capacity, limited budget, limited forecasting strategies of the Hosanna water supply and services sanitation, limits of water consumption, rapid population growth, frequent interruption and lack of narrowing gap between communities particularly makes the provision services difficult in the area. As a result nearly most of the dwellers prefer to use alternative sources, which have seriously contributed to water supply problems. Community participation in water supply and sanitation is inadequate due to the limitation of offices or authorities particularly municipality in coordinating and supporting active community participation in the area. So, the lack of the water supply could affect the health condition and every economic activity of the dwellers in the study area. The provisions of water supply infrastructure and services were not adequate for urban dweller that means there is a perpetual unmet demand of water in this town due to effect of rapid population growth, which need to be satisfied. The equitable distribution and regular water supply infrastructure and services in the town should be ensured.