Since 1996, WaterAid has helped provide more than 60,000 people in Hitosa with clean and safe water. Water runs downhill from two springs, through 140 kilometres of pipeline to 122 distribution points and more than 300 individual buildings. This type of system where water runs downhill is called a gravity supply scheme.
Having safe water close to their homes makes a huge difference to people’s lives, especially the women and children who had to collect water, sometimes from as far as 50 kilometres away. Now families spend more time together and can take part in social and religious activities.
The Hitosa scheme could not have succeeded without all of its three partners. Ethiopia’s government was responsible for design and construction, WaterAid provided most of the finance, and local communities contributed cash and labour covering 20 per cent of the construction costs. Hitosa proves that big is not always complicated. Gravity water supply schemes are simple to run and Hitosa’s is now managed by a Water Board supervised by the community it serves.