Methodological Evaluation of Municipal Water Systems in Ethiopia Using Panel Data for System Reliability Measurement

Municipal water systems in Ethiopia face challenges related to reliability and sustainability, impacting rural development. Panel data methodology was employed to analyse the impact of socio-economic factors on municipal water system performance over time. The findings indicate a significant variation in system reliability among municipalities, with some showing improvement over five years. This study provides insights into the effectiveness of current municipal water management practices and identifies areas for enhancement. Policy recommendations include targeted interventions to improve infrastructure maintenance and funding mechanisms. Municipal Water Systems, Panel Data Analysis, System Reliability, Ethiopia The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.