More than Drilling: 5 Types of Appropriate Water Technology

Clean, safe water is vital to thrive and live as God intends. But, a drilled well isn’t always the most appropriate technology for a given situation. Sometimes, it isn’t even technically possible.

One size doesn’t fit all. Lifewater’s approach to safe water access reflects the realities of the places we work: regions with unique natural environments, cultural priorities, and technical challenges.

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“The objective is to provide safe drinking water, but there’s a huge variety in the situations that we work with,” Lifewater Manager of WASH Engineering, Jon Viducich, said. “It’s important to have flexibility so we can find what’s appropriate for each location.”

Below are the five types of water technologies used by Lifewater in Africa and Asia.

Five Types of Appropriate Technology

Hand-dug Well

When water is available at a shallow depth below the land surface and roads aren’t accessible or don’t exist, skilled technicians can dig a well (less than 100 feet deep) that is lined, capped, and equipped with a hand pump.

From the surface, the hand-dug well looks just like a drilled well, but underneath is very different. This is a simpler form of water access that has been used for generations. However, modern technology continues to greater better, more reliable hand pump wells.

Drilled Well

When water is located deep below the land surface (more than 100 feet) and access roads are available, we mobilize a drill rig. Drilled wells are also lined, capped, and equipped with a hand pump. Drilling depth typically range from 100 to 400 feet, depending on the location.

Protected Spring

Naturally flowing spring water can be captured and directed to a tap or piped system, protecting it from contamination. This is often a low-tech solution that can last a long time when constructed properly.

However, protected springs range in complexity. Some require a series of pipelines, storage tanks, and tap stands designed to supply water to multiple locations downhill from the spring.

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is a system in which one or more tanks store rainwater collected from a roof. It’s a common solution at schools with large buildings and surface area to capture the rain.

Rainwater harvesting systems are generally less expensive than wells and are sometimes the only option when groundwater is unavailable or unsafe. However, rainwater harvesting systems alone are not the preferred option, as they are dependent on rain and limited in their ability to supply water consistently throughout the year.

Rehabilitated Wells

Before developing any new water sources in a region, Lifewater first works with communities to rehabilitate existing sources. Repairing an existing source is often much more cost effective than constructing a new one, and when done properly and professionally, can serve a community well. By fixing water points that have fallen into disrepair, we can help multiply the impact in hard-to-reach communities.

Determining the Appropriate Technology

After rehabilitating existing wells in a district that have the potential to meet our standards and serve people with safe water, Lifewater works with communities to measure population, distance traveled, and queuing time. The purpose is to make sure everyone in the village is served.

“The situation in each village is unique; we work to identify the best natural water resources available within a community to determine what is most appropriate and desired,” Dr. Pamela Crane-Hoover, Lifewater’s Chief of WASH Engineering, said. “I some of the areas we serve, there are natural springs, and the communities prefer these over wells, and so we work to protect the springs to provide safe drinking water.”

“By using appropriate technology, we are able to meet community needs as well as promote sustainability,” she added.

While the types of water sources may vary, the schools, communities, and health facilities we serve share a common reality: access to safe water is essential for people to live, work, worship, and make a way out of poverty.