Over 12 mln people gain access to safe drinking water

Addis Ababa, March 6 (WIC) –Over 12 million people have gained access to safe drinking water during the two and a half years implementation period of the Growth and Transformations Plan (GTP), the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) said.

Some 11.1 million of beneficiaries of the potable water facilities are rural dwellers, Public Relations and Communication Directorate Director with MoWE, Bizuneh Tolcha, told WIC today.

Ethiopia’s five-year GTP period targets providing safe drinking water for about 18.2 million people.

In order to attain the set target, 42, 226 water amenities, including hand pump, deep and medium water wells as well as ponds, among others, will be constructed through the GTP period, he said.

So far, some 24, 320 water faculties were built, he said.

Ethiopia’s five-year GTP period envisions providing 15 liters safe drinking water per person per day within a 1.5 km rural dwelling radius and 20 liters water per person per day within 0.5 km urban dwelling radius.

According to Bizuneh, activities are underway to raise potable water coverage at a national level to 98.5 per cent by the end of the GTP period.