This highly recommended publication comprises everything regarding the establishment of a water supply system based on (shallow) hand-dug wells for communities in the South. It elaborates on the underlying hydrogeological principles, preparatory investigations, design, construction, operation and maintenance, and it discusses the most common mistakes made in design and construction.
COLLINS, S. (2000): Hand-dug Shallow Wells. (= Series of Manuals on Drinking Water Supply , 5 ). St. Gallen: Swiss Centre for Development Cooperation in Technology and Management (SKAT) URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFLibrary
This document provided by Helvetas Cameroon describes an approach for the organisational and technical implementation of water catchment protection. This approach consists of 8 steps including sensitisation, feasibility studies, protection plans, land ownership, implementation, O&M, monitoring, and evaluation. This step-wise approach can be used as a guideline for implementing water catchment activities in village water supply systems.
WAARDE, J. van der MUSA, T.M. ISCHER, M. (n.y): Water Catchment Protection Handbook. (= Learning and Experience Sharing Series , 1 ). Bamenda: Helvetas Cameroon, Swiss Association for International Co-operation URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFThis case study analyses the impact of the treadle pump on smallholder poverty and food security in Malawi.
MANGISONI, J.H. (2006): Impact of Treadle Pump Irrigation Technology on Smallholder Poverty and Food Security in Malawi. A Case Study of Blantyre and Mchinji Districts. Lilongwe: University of Malawi URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFSelf-supply, where households invest to develop their own easily-accessible water supplies, is identified as an alternative service delivery model that is potentially complementary to more highly subsidised community-level provision. The approach is widespread in Ethiopia with family wells bringing additional benefits that are in line with wider government objectives, such as supporting small-scale irrigation. However, two recent studies show the current performance of traditional or family wells to be far below potential with most sources providing unsafe water in the absence of adequate protection.
BUTTERWORTH, J. ; SUTTON, S. ; MEKONTA, L. (2013): Self-Supply as a Complementary Water Services Delivery Model in Ethiopia. In: Water Alternatives: Volume 6 , 405-423. URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFThis technical note discusses the construction of spring boxes and collection systems, and outlines further construction steps.
WFTW (n.y): Constructing Structures for Springs. Technical Note No. RWS. 1.C.1.. Washington, D.C.: Water for the World (WFTW), U.S. Agency for International Development URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFThis report by UNEP provides an overview of current major water quality contaminants and the human activities that affect water quality. It details the impacts that poor water quality has on the environment, human health, and vulnerable communities, and quantifies the economic costs of poor water quality. Il also offers insights into specific solutions available to address water quality problems.
UNEP (2010): Clearing the Waters. A Focus on Water Quality Solutions. Oakland: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFHand dug wells may need repairing, cleaning and disinfecting after inundation by flood- or seawater or after long periods of insufficient maintenance. This Technical Brief elaborates on the process of repairing; cleaning and disinfecting hand dug wells and also discusses the OXFAM kits, which can be used for this purpose.
OXFAM (n.y): Repairing, Cleaning and Disinfection Hand Dug Wells. OXFAM Technical Briefs. Washington D.C.: Oxfam International Advocacy URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFThis technical note describes the planning needed to use surface water (as well as spring water) sources in terms of various planning steps: recognising the problem, organising community support, setting objectives, etc.
WFTW (n.y): Planning How to Use Sources of Surface Water. Technical Note No. RWS. 1.P.1. Washington, D.C: Water for the World (WFTW), U.S. Agency for International Development URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFThis well-illustrated publication provides information on most aspects of well management: basics of groundwater hydrology, water well development (including planning, design, construction, management and maintenance), and well protection are introduced in very clear language and by means of nice graphs and illustrations.
MANCE, E. (n.y): A Landowner’s Guide to Water Wall Management. Ottawa: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFThis field manual brings together knowledge of the technique of upgrading simple shallow wells. The simple technique of upgrading simple shallow wells has been investigated and tested by staff of the Blair Research Laboratory and subsequently by staff of the Mvuramanzi Trust for many years. It is now well established in many areas of Zimbabwe.
MORGAN, P. (1995): Upgraded Well Manual for Field Workers. Harare: Mvuramanzi Trust URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFThe Ministry of Local Government and Housing, in consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders, has formulated National Guidelines to improve the utilisation of water resources on a sustainable basis through effective O&M. These guidelines are based on the experiences of implementation of rural water supply projects in Zambia.
MLGH (2007): Zambia - National Guidelines for Sustainable Operation and Maintenance of Hand Pumps in Rural Areas. Zambia: Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDFAkvopedia is an open water and sanitation resource. Although the focus is more on sanitation, the water portal section provides many factsheets on different pumping methods and power sources.
The construction of a spring box is both complex and costly. However, it may not be necessary at all. This short publication suggests an alternative construction to a conventional spring box.
SKINNER, B. SHAW, R. (n.y): Protecting Springs – An Alternative to Spring Boxes. (= Running Water , 34 ). Leicestershire: Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), Loughborough University URL [Accessed: 08.03.2019] PDF