Cost-Effective, Sanitary Shallow Water Wells for Agriculture and Small Communities Using Mechanized Tube Well Installation

Abstract

Multiple studies have adequately demonstrated the connection between sanitary water supply for developing communities and sustainable economic growth. Unfortunately, the cost of traditional drilled water wells prevents their more rapid installation across much of the developing world. Numerous communities and agricultural areas could benefit greatly from access to groundwater less than 10 meters deep. Researchers have developed a means to mechanize shallow tube well installation to provide sanitary water wells of modest capacity. A hydraulic ram for agricultural fence post driving has been attached to a small PUP utility vehicle and repurposed to drive small diameter well pipe. This chapter will outline the water access problem from a global perspective, describe the traditional means of construction for sanitary water wells in remote areas and their relative costs, and detail the recent advancements and potential cost savings provided by a simple mechanized means to install tube wells in shallow water table areas.