Incorporation of multiple uses into new (irrigation) systems: Case study Ethiopia

1
Incorporation of multiple uses into new
(irrigation) systemsCase study Ethiopia
Catholic Relief Services and their partners have
implemented several multipurpose water systems in
East and Northern Ethiopia. Some started as
domestic systems (e.g. Burak in the East - left
example), while some were from the start designed
to deliver multiple use water services (e.g.
Adidaero in the North right).
Photo Michiko Ebato
Photo Michiko Ebato
Photo Michiko Ebato
Photo Pauline Scheelbeek
Photo Eline Boelee
Irrigated field
Nursery
Cattle trough
Laundry basin
Cattle trough
Photo Eline Boelee
Photo Michiko Ebato
Irrigated fields
Photo Michiko Ebato
Photo Michiko Ebato
Domestic water point
Irrigation canal
Water point (left) and laundry basin (right)
Photo Eline Boelee
Irrigation diversion structure
Filtration gallery
Spring protection box and reservoir
Photo Michiko Ebato
Photo Eline Boelee
Ethiopia
Diversion dam
2
Incorporation of multiple uses into new
irrigation systemsCase study Ethiopia (based on
MUS project, see notes)
Draft

• Designed for multiple uses with focus on
  irrigation
• In most of rural Ethiopia, no adequate drinking
  water supply is available
• People use water from all sources for livestock,
  drinking, irrigation, and other domestic and
  productive purposes
• Water interventions by NGOs integrate various
  uses according to the potential of the water
  resources, e.g.
• Springs are protected by spring boxes and the
  high quality water stored in a clean reservoir,
  with connections to taps, cattle troughs, laundry
  and washing sites overflow from the reservoirs
  is used for irrigation
• Water from diversion dams is led into irrigation
  canals and horizontal filtration gallery and the
  potable water stored overflow goes to laundry
  basin and cattle trough.
• Boreholes with high yields are equipped with
  extra pumps to make more water available for
  gardens.
• A learning alliance on multiple use of water in
  eastern Ethiopia has led to changed investments
  now this district will invest in multipurpose
  water systems only
• Issues
• Water quality variable from very low at surface
  water sources to high at boreholes
• Water stored and consumed at household level very
  low quality
• High prevalence of intestinal water-related
  parasites (e.g. Cryptosporidium, Giardia)
• Access to water systems not always clearly
  arranged, sometimes aggravation of conflicts
• Low access to markets, both for agricultural
  inputs (e.g. agrochemicals) and for selling
  products

Ethiopia
3
Incorporation of multiple uses into new
irrigation systemsCase study Ethiopia
Draft

• Service levels
• Though these are almost fully-fledged multiple
  use water services and the irrigation-plus
  typology does not really apply, probably L1
  classifies these systems best because most
  facilities are communal.
• Could move up the service ladder by
• Introduction of home water treatment for drinking
  water
• Individual connections and provisions
• Agricultural and veterinary extension
• Improved access to input and output markets
• Costs
• Infrastructure in Ethiopia is more expensive than
  in other countries, so combined infrastructure
  saves money
• Good participatory approach to include all
  agencies and assess actual range of water needs
  is time consuming and leads to high overheads
• Much of rural Ethiopia is chronically
  food-insecure and depends (at least for several
  months of the year) on food aid. Access to water
  for irrigation would help to reduce food
  insecurity but it will take years and much
  additional (information, infrastructure,
  education) support before people can get an
  income. Cost recovery in Ethiopia is an illusion
  in the short term.
• Benefits
• Improved health
• Increased food security
• Increased livestock productivity
• Increased opportunities for income generation
• Reduced work load and drudgery, especially for
  children

Ethiopia