Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/592194
ticipants were all middle-aged males from the north and cen- tral regions of the country and only a few had been to second- ary school. The entrepreneurs in training are looking to start their own small businesses. The products the entrepreneurs sell are focused in general for areas with water levels of 35 meters (114.8 feet) or less and with a geology permitting manual dig- ging or drilling. Yet looking back after three years, a lesson learned has been: To become successful, water entrepreneurs in Malawi need a combination of technical ability and business skills. Technical trainings in rope pump fabrication have proven to be relatively straightforward. Although technologies are sim- ple, experience is "simple is not easy." The training of manual drilling has been more complex. However, the benefits of manual drilling outweigh the challenges for the provision of safer water when compared to standard manual hand-digging of wells. Additionally, the costs are significantly less than mechanically drilled wells. To get an impression of the potential of the new low-cost technologies, the installation of a machine-drilled borehole with an imported hand pump, such as an Afridev pump, costs $8000 to $10,000 in Malawi. Afridev pumps are used by an average of 250 people, so the cost per person is $30 to $40. In areas where the water tables are 35 meters or less, and where there are no hard rock layers, manual drilling and rope pumps are possible. These systems are for a maximum num- ber of 150 people but cost $1500, so the cost per person is around $10—much less than with conventional machine- drilled technologies. In many areas of Malawi, manual well drilling is possible. Another advantage is lower-cost options can increase the number of wells so that water is closer to residences. The ben- efits of manual drilling are enough to justify starting up man- ual drilling businesses and mentoring these businesses until the companies are self-sufficient. A challenge observed during mentoring of these businesses in Malawi is it is rare that both technical and business skills required to run a company are found in one person. To find small-scale local artisans with natural business skills has especially been a challenge, and takes time. When the SMART Centre started, the first group of manual drillers being trained was made up of technicians who often lacked business acumen. Although later business and market- ing training were provided to these drillers, the business requirements often exceeded the abilities of the drillers. The Learn More About the Foundation Find out more about the National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation by going to www.ngwa.org/Foundation/ about/Pages/default.aspx. The Foundation provides grants, scholarships, and lectures for those in the groundwater industry. Go online to get more details and find out how you can be involved. of the 2 Congra Life M • M. Kin • Ross L • NGWA Aw 2015 NGWA tulations to Member — Ken Wood ng Hubbert — Sorab Panday, Ph.D. L. Oliver — Scott Fowler, CWD/PI wards of Excellence awards! the winners D. s M Keith • John • Divisiona and O Groun • Groun • Outstanding Groundwater Project Awards Stand • Speci • Hono • f Di i i S i l Recognition — James "Jim" Jackson E. Anderson (Scientists and Engin Hem (Scientists and Engineers Division) — Zhongbo Yu, Ph.D., PG al Awards Owen and White Consulting Engineers Inc. ndwater Supply — Layne Christen ndwater Protection — CDM Smith Inc. ding Groundwater Project Awards dard Bearer — John "Jack" W. Henrich, MGWC, CVCLD al Recognition — Robert Cleary, P orary Member — Christine Reimer i i J "Jim" Jackson neers Division) — E. Scott Bair, Ph.D. vision) — Zhongbo Yu, Ph.D., PG neers Inc. nsen Co. h Inc. rds ch, MGWC, CVCLD Ph.D. r h.D. G Rea Suppl • Manu • d more at NGWA lier of the Year — H.A. "Bill" Mills ufacturers Division Special Recognition — James "Jim" Jackson A.org/Awards. nition — James "Jim" Jackson 12 November 2015 WWJ waterwelljournal.com GUEST EDITORIAL from page 10