An evaluation of the factors influencing the sustainable management of water Supply facilities in Gachoka Division--Mbeere district

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the comrnunitys' management of water supply facilities in Gachoka Division, Mbeere District. Three factors were considered in this study, the reliability of the improved facilities, community participation and institutional framework. The study: s objectives were; to explore the different sources of water and ascertain the reliability of improved water supply facilities vis-a-vis the unimproved indigenous sources; to investigate the community's role in the development of the water sources and the effect this has on the sustainable management of the improved water sources and thirdly, to investigate the community's institutional framework by assessing the strength of gender roles in group activities, training and networking. The management of the water supply facilities is expJained within the context of the social systems theory. Data collection techniques included the use of a standard questionnairewhich was orally administered to one hundred (100) sampled respondents, two focus-group discussions, key informants, desk studies and unstructured interviews. Participatory Research Approach (PRA) was adopted in the process of collecting the data. The hypotheses that were formulated are; the improved water supply facilities are reliable sources of water and are more preferred and sustainably maintained than the unimproved indigenous water sources; that community participation in design and implementation of the water sources is likely to bring about sustainable maintenance of the water supply facilities and.that the development of a strong institutional framework will result in sustainably maintained water sources. Analysis of the data showed that two improved water supply facilities (boreholes and dams) provide water throughout the year while the rest of the sources (rock catchment tanks, roof catchment tanks, streams and wells) are seasonal in that they provide water during and shortly after the rains. The study found out that quantity and accessibility count more than quality. Another finding is that the ~mun'ity members were by-passed during the development process, hence, never identified themselves with the improved water supply facilities. This (xii) resulted in the facilities being poorly maintained. The trend of unsustainability has in the case. of boreholes been tackled through the community mobilization exercise involving the training of caretakers, the committee members as well as the formation of the grass-root organizations. There is a significant trend towards involving women in the management of the water resources. Given the study findings, it is clear that the community: members are capable of sustainably managing .those facilities if directly involved in thei'r planning and maintenance. The study recommends the participation of the community members in future planning and development of projects.