By Ekaterina Kilima – Art in Tanzania internship
Environmental Advocacy Program
According to the World Bank (2019), Ethiopia is one of the priority countries in Africa for the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP) programs. In other words, a lot of money is being invested in Ethiopia to improve its water and sanitation systems. Currently, Addis Ababa is considered a region with very safe drinking water (85 % of water is low risk) compared to the other areas of Ethiopia (only 7% of water is low risk in particular places) (CSAE 2017). Access to clean drinking water is a significant inequality issue, as the region’s poorest people often lack access to high-quality water, unlike the wealthiest group.
A recent epidemiological study conducted by Wolde et al. (2020) suggested that the clean water in Addis Ababa may be more exposed to bacteria and parasites during the wet season (January-October) due to high rainfall. The results of the study have shown that, although mostly insignificant, slight contamination was found in the water samples from public taps and reservoirs (around 6% each). Traces of faecal coliforms and total coliforms were found in those samples. The highest contamination results were observed in the water samples from springs and wells (76% and 79% contamination, respectively). The number of faecal coliforms was decreasing with every week of the season, while the number of total coliforms was increasing.
Moreover, some samples were collected from Akaki, Gefersa, and Lege Dadi water plants but the parasitological results for them were negative. Wolde et al (2020) also note that the quality of the water might depend on the condition of the water supply reservoirs. For example, most reservoirs in Addis Ababa are well-maintained. However, most springs are often exposed to heavy rain, floods, and contamination by microorganisms. It is essential to inspect the serviceability of public and private taps promptly and to prevent them from being obstructed with clothes, ropes, and plastic tubes, as this can facilitate contamination.
This statement can also be proved by another study conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia in 2017. It was found that nearly 95% of households receiving low-risk water obtain it from improved, high-quality sources. The most common source of clean drinking water was piped water on the premises, while the most hazardous was unprotected springs and surface water (CSAE 2017)
Some key lessons to remember are that the highest quality water is usually consumed in urban areas rather than rural areas, and this water comes from secure and improved sources, such as public pipes or kiosks. Bottled water is also a good source of high-quality water but is not consumed by many people. It is essential to maintain the quality of the water reservoirs and make necessary repairs to ensure that people get good-quality water. One of the biggest social issues regarding water supply is inequality, as Addis Ababa’s poorest areas still lack access to clean water.
Sources:
https://washdata.org/report/drinking-water-quality-ethiopia-ess-2016
