Geographia Technica, Vol 21, Issue 1, 2026, pp. 228-253
URBAN WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESSMENT UNDER SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATION OF CHANCHO TOWN, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA, USING WEAP MODEL
Merry Amensisa TOLA, Tamru Tesseme ARAGAW 
, Mihai VODA
ABSTRACT: Urban water supply and requirements evaluation is crucial for long-term management, particularly in quickly rising regions of developing countries such as Ethiopia. This article addresses the issue of urban water supply and demand under socioeconomic stress in Chancho town, Ethiopia, while highlighting potential solutions. The WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning) model was used in the study to investigate the town's demand and supply of water trends and provide solutions for this issue in relevant regions around the world. The rainfall discharge and climate data were collected on a monthly basis for model calibration and scenario development in WEAP. The findings show that the current annual water supply of 1.53 million cubic meters meets only 51% of the total demand. Over the next 15 years, rising population and urbanization will push total annual demand from 65 to 78 million cubic meters. Additionally, the climate change scenario is expected to reduce groundwater availability by 1.68 million cubic meters annually. Supply-side management scenarios suggest that integrating surface and groundwater sources for industrial and livestock use improves water supply reliability and reduces pressure on individual sources. This strategy ensures sustainable water use, supporting both the growing population and key economic sectors. The study concluded that increased water demand under socioeconomic stress requires strategic planning and resource allocation in developing countries with limited water resources.
Keywords: Water supply; Socioeconomic factors; Water demand; WEAP model; Urbanization; Ethiopia.
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