Empowering Sustainable Water Use: Insights from the Lake Hawassa Sub-basin Water Use Efficiency Training

The Lake Hawassa sub-basin is a vital ecosystem and source of livelihood for its growing population. But it is facing increasing pressure on its water resources. Rapid population growth, urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change have led to concerns regarding water quality degradation, declining water availability, and potential conflicts over water use. Further, the sub-basin faces challenges related to water resource management, including contamination from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and sewage; inefficient water use; and lack of coordination among stakeholders. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Protecting Lake Hawassa (PLH) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership was established in 2018, working to foster collaboration and coordination among actors from the public and private sector and civil society. 

To enhance water use efficiency in the Lake Hawassa sub-basin and build capacities among stakeholders, the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS) implemented by GIZ recently organized trainings on water use efficiency for key stakeholders in the sub-basin. Resource efficiency is defined as a way of using natural resources that is sustainable for all involved stakeholders, fostering economic productivity, ecological sustainability and social justice. This training initiative, as part of the PLH partnership, brought together representatives from various sectors, including industry, irrigated agriculture, hospitality, urban greening, and municipal water supply.

Stakeholder collaboration for more efficient water management

Held from May 7 to 9, 2025 in Hawassa, the three-day training focused on demonstrating and presenting the findings of a gap assessment on water usage efficiency and facilitated discussions to identify practical solutions for the sustainable management of this vital resource. The training attracted a total of 45 participants. These comprised 10 high-level decision-makers from public regulatory bodies and 35 senior professionals from relevant sectors.

Key public stakeholders included officials from the Ministry of Water and Energy, as well as representatives from the Sidama and Oromia regional state bureaus, and Hawassa City Municipalities. The private sector also played a crucial role in the discussions, with representatives from companies such as Moha Soft Drink Factory, Haile Resort, Almeta Farm, ELFORA, and Klaver Flowers.

The active stakeholder participation underscored the importance of mutual understanding and participatory actions in addressing the findings of the gap assessment study, conducted in collaboration with experts from Hawassa University. During the sessions, officials acknowledged the valuable insights gained and committed to fostering further cooperation towards shared solutions. Emphasis was put on the need for balanced and responsible utilization of water resources across all sectors. After the training, participants successfully demonstrated their learning outcomes in an assessment test.

Steps to improve water efficiency in the Lake Hawassa Sub-basin

The training highlighted several critical findings and recommendations for improving water use efficiency in the Lake Hawassa sub-basin:

1. Reduce Non-Revenue Water: Implement strategies for leak detection and repair, as well as meter maintenance and replacement.
2. Promote Water-Saving Behaviours: Encourage the adoption of water-saving fixtures and behaviours, particularly in growing middle-class neighbourhoods.
3. Introduce Tariff Systems: Consider block tariffs and metering for billing households to incentivize conservation among users.
4. Implement Rainwater Harvesting: Encourage practices to harvest and reuse rainwater for non-potable demands.
5. Upgrade Infrastructure: Invest in supply infrastructure to alleviate pressure on boreholes and improve water supply continuity.
6. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): Undertake MAR interventions to enhance groundwater recharge and sustainability.

The collective commitment demonstrated during this training marks a substantial step towards more efficient and sustainable water management practices in the region, ensuring the preservation of Lake Hawassa and its vital resources for future generations. Follow-up on these recommendations will take place through the technical committees of the Protecting Lake Hawassa (PLH) partnership. They will offer joint support to the respective stakeholders and institutions to act upon the identified needs and objectives for realizing more efficient use of water resources in the endangered ecosystem of Lake Hawassa.