Background
Water is not only a limited resource but, the most strategically important resource
on earth (Spivy, 2002).Safe drinking water is one of the primary necessities for human
beings to survive live healthy life and be productive. Although, a large number of the
world’s population faces shortage of this basic need. However, both urban and rural parts
are facing this problem, rural communities still are under worst situation. Especially in
developing countries likes Ethiopia, people suffer from lack of safe drinking water and
proper sanitation.
Water supply problem in Ethiopia has multiple impacts on people's health, education and
nutrition, preventing the country from reaching its development potential
([http://www.finland.org.et. , 2011).That is, large part of the population still uses
unprotected sources. For this, access toan improved water supply in Ethiopia is generally
among the lowest, which was estimated as 37% of total coverage (92% for urban areas
and 27% for rural areas) by JMP (Joint Monitoring Program) updated in 2010. As a
result, related problems such as, water borne diseases, poor sanitation and lack of
hygiene still are the most common cause of illness and death.
According to water aid Ethiopia, 2008, because of poor sanitation practices and
consumption of contaminated water, over 100 out of 1000 children die within the first
five years of age (Demeke, 2009).
Moreover, GoE has planned a Water Supply Program that has set targets to be
achieved over the 15-year program period starting from the year 2001. Targets are
therefore set for the national water coverage to be attained at the end of program period in
2016, in the same manner target for the Urban Water Supply and Rural Ethiopia are
also set. The program (WSDP) is therefore divided into short term (2002-2006),
Medium-term (2007-2011) and long-term (2012-2016). At the end of the program, period (2016) national water supply coverage will hit a level of 98.0% for rural
and 100% for urban settings from its 31% in the base year of the program (2001). The
setting of the target indicates that Government has made a conscious decision to meet
its commitments for the Millennium Development Goals (Bhandar & Grant , 2007)
Hossana Town water supply system is constructed in 1976 E.C from Tegona River for
drinking water with populations no of 37,737. The rapid increase in population, economic
development leads to improved water and sanitation to cause rise in water demand and
necessity of improved system to deliver clean and safe drinking water to customers
(Metaferia, 2011).
However, leakage is one of the major causes for loss of water in a network distribution
system that currently in need of attention and issues related to the overall water loss and
hydraulic performance situation are not investigated from the utility yet. Thus, the present
study attempt to examine the performance of hydraulic and water loss through the system
in the study area.