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Diriba and Fitamo

for consumption, it is crucial to assess its quality, as challenge and groundwater serves as the primary
potable water must be free from physical, chemical, and source of drinking water. Despite its significance,
biological contaminants. 7 the physicochemical quality of groundwater sources
Most people in developing nations obtain their in the Borana Zone, particularly in the towns of
drinking water from unprotected or contaminated Yabelo, Dubuluk, Elewaye, and Gomole, has not been
sources, which heightens the risk of outbreaks of thoroughly studied.
waterborne diseases. Efforts to prevent and control Therefore, this exploratory study aimed to: (1) assess
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waterborne diseases continue to depend on the quality the physicochemical properties of groundwater sources
of drinking water, which serves as a vital environmental in the Borana Zone, particularly in the towns of Yabelo,
indicator of public health. Waterborne diseases, such as Dubuluk, Elewaye, and Gomole; and (2) conduct a
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dysentery, cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid are caused by comprehensive evaluation of groundwater quality in
the consumption of contaminated water and can lead to the designated study area using the WQI, GPI, and NPI
pre-mature death, particularly in developing countries. 10 techniques to assess its suitability for drinking.
Ethiopia has the lowest rate of access to safe This comprehensive approach provides a holistic
drinking water among sub-Saharan African nations. perspective on groundwater quality and its implications
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In recent times, the demand for water and subsequent for the suitability of drinking water sources, while also
groundwater abstraction has increased across Ethiopia, enabling the identification of associations between
as surface water bodies have become increasingly groundwater characteristics and their potential impacts
prone to pollution. Although the government does on human health. Comprehending the complex
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not have regular and comprehensive water quality relationships between groundwater quality and the
testing programs, there are growing concerns about the suitability of drinking water is crucial for developing
pollution of both surface and groundwater sources in effective water resource management strategies.
some areas. 4 Moreover, it is crucial for minimizing the undesirable
Evaluating water quality based on the concentrations impacts of deteriorating water quality on water use and
of various components can be challenging. To eventually human well-being.
3
effectively summarize water quality while preserving
scientific integrity, the water quality index (WQI) 1.1. Description of the study area
method is highly valuable. The WQI serves as a The Borana Zone of the Oromia region is located in
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powerful tool for conveying groundwater quality the southernmost part of Ethiopia (Figure 1), bordering
information to the public and policymakers. Its primary the West Guji Zone to the north, Kenya to the south,
objective is to transform complex water quality data the Guji Zone and Somali Regional State to the east,
into understandable and actionable information, and the Southern Nations region to the west. Its
focusing on the suitability of groundwater for human geographical location is 3°30′N – 5°25′N latitude and
consumption. This index assigns a single value that 36°40′E – 39°45′E longitude. The area is characterized
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reflects the overall water quality at a specific location by a semi-arid to arid climate and is primarily inhabited
and time, based on a range of water quality parameters. by pastoral and agro-pastoral Borana communities. The
It also enhances the interpretability of these parameters town of Yabelo, located 575 km south of Addis Ababa
and facilitates comparisons across different sampling along the route to Moyale-Kenya, is the administrative
sites. 15,16 Conversely, the groundwater pollution index seat of the Borana Zone. The zone covers an area of
(GPI), developed by Rao, is another methodology approximately 95,000 km , with 75% classified as
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2
used to assess groundwater quality. The GPI has been lowland, and has an overall population density of six
effectively applied in monitoring drinking water quality inhabitants per square kilometer. 20,21
in various regions, as shown in studies by Sanad et al. The Borana Zone’s ephemeral drainage system
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and Al-Aizari et al. On the other hand, the nitrate is located within the Genale-Dawa River Basin.
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pollution index (NPI) is a numerical value used to assess Groundwater levels in the study area are generally deep,
the extent of nitrate contamination in groundwater. 19 and there are no perennial rivers. Rainfall in the zone is
However, limited studies in Ethiopia have assessed highly variable, both spatially and temporally. As a result,
groundwater quality using the WQI, GPI, and NPI. Even rural communities in Borana Zone have limited access
more concerning is the absence of such studies in the to clean drinking water. The primary water sources for
Borana Zone of the Oromia region, an arid area where pastoralists in the area include open surface water, such
access to fresh drinking water remains a significant as runoff, floodwater, ponds, and micro-dams, as well

Volume 22 Issue 1 (2025) 100 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025040023