CAUSES AND EFFECTS FOR THE DELAY OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECTS: THE CASE OF 15 TOWNS WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION PROJECT IN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

The water supply sector is an important pillar in the achievement of Growth and transformation plan (GTP), set by the Federal Government of Ethiopia for the water supply coverage in the country. The water supply construction is characterized by its complexity because it is taking place in public roads, vicinity areas which causes disputes for compensation. Moreover, it is associated with excavation machines & equipment that require continuous maintenance. Therefore, it will take extended time beyond the schedule and as a result it comes to be vulnerable to project delay. This shows that there is a direct link between time and cost of completing a large water supply construction project. Project delays are a prevailing and regular phenomenon in the Ethiopian construction industry. Delay to projects mean the slowdown of development in all other related fields. This study was aimed at empirically identifying factors that cause delays with its effect in 15 towns water supply construction projects in Ethiopia. In addition, it was conducted to identify factors affecting delay in WSS construction projects with recommend possible mitigation measures. The study adopted quantitative and qualitative methods with the help of Primary data collected using self-administered questionnaires on 50 respondents and key informant interviews with ten experienced practitioners in the WSS construction sector. Secondary data was also collected through reviewing of related materials. Analysis of the quantitative data was made using SPSS version 22. The research finding revealed that material import delay, ineffective planning & scheduling of projects, poor site management and supervision, delay in progress payment, slow decision making by the owners & inaccurate site investigation are some of the causes which significantly influenced to delay the completion of the project. Beyond these factors, time overrun, cost overrun, dispute etc. are major effects of the delay. Generally, this study has indicated that the community beer all impacts in terms of increased cost, losing benefits from the projects . Therefore, WSSP demand contractors to employ competent staffs capable of preparing sound planning. On the government side it has to give priority in allocating currency to the water sector in importing materials. Owners in their part should settle progress payments & give timely decisions.