Overview of Existing Wastewater Management System in Case of Debre Markos Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study is conducted in Debre Markos Town which is the capital of East Gojjam Administrative Zone. The study aims at assessing the waste management system practice, challenges and impacts on environment. The existing household wastewater management in the Town is very poor and creates adverse impact on environment like health problem, river and air pollution. These are due to lack of ownership in the town, shortage of vacuum trucks to empty toilet, absence of  well planned central sewer system, improper use of drainage systems for household wastewater, low income and lack of awareness of the community to manage household wastewater are the common problems in the Town. As the result, the community discharges household wastewater in to open space, river and streams. The existing household wastewater (liquid and/or solid) management services was inadequate, health problem, environmental pollution and social impacts of improper management are due to  insufficient infrastructure, lack of coordination between institutions, inadequate participation of stakeholders and lack of community awareness are challenges to manage household wastewater in the Town. Generally, increase inaccessibility of household wastewater management facilities, creating awareness to community, coordination and integration among institutions, participation of stakeholders and provide sewerage system are the recommendations forwarded in order to promote proper household wastewater management system in the Town.

Keywords: challenges, sustainable sanitation system, household, stakeholder, wastewater