Case Study Zimbabwe Family Well Upgrading - Revision history

LaurenGiles: /* Sources */ aquamor page. now just to home page as family wells page no longer exists

2024-01-22T12:19:03Z

Sources: aquamor page. now just to home page as family wells page no longer exists

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:19, 22 January 2024
Line 109:		Line 109:


	'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells and self supply are available on the [https://www.aquamor.~~info~~/~~family-wells.html~~ Aquamor] and [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources?d=1&filter=3&filterregion=10_42 RWSN] websites.'''		'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells and self supply are available on the [https://www.aquamor.com/ Aquamor] and [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources?d=1&filter=3&filterregion=10_42 RWSN] websites.'''

LaurenGiles: /* Sources */ RWSN website link

2024-01-22T12:18:11Z

Sources: RWSN website link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:18, 22 January 2024
Line 109:		Line 109:


	'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells and self supply are available on the [https://www.aquamor.info/family-wells.html Aquamor] and [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/filter/1 RWSN] websites.'''		'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells and self supply are available on the [https://www.aquamor.info/family-wells.html Aquamor] and [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources?d=1&filter=3&filterregion=10_42 RWSN] websites.'''

LaurenGiles: /* Sources */ Morgan P 2006 link

2024-01-22T12:14:07Z

Sources: Morgan P 2006 link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:14, 22 January 2024
Line 100:		Line 100:
	===Sources===		===Sources===

	Morgan P. 2006. [~~http~~://~~aquamor~~.~~info~~/~~uploads~~/3/4/2~~/5/34257237/zimbabwes_upgraded_family_well_program~~.~~pdf~~ Zimbabwe's upgraded family well programme].		Morgan P. 2006. [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/_ressources/documents/default/1-755-2-1536054652.PDF Zimbabwe's upgraded family well programme].

	Morgan P, Chimbunde E, Mtakwa N and Waterkeyn A. 1996. [https://www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/Morgan-1996-Now.pdf Now in my backyard - Zimbabwe's upgraded family well programme]. Waterlines 14(4)		Morgan P, Chimbunde E, Mtakwa N and Waterkeyn A. 1996. [https://www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/Morgan-1996-Now.pdf Now in my backyard - Zimbabwe's upgraded family well programme]. Waterlines 14(4)

	Morgan P and Kanyemba A. 2012. [~~http~~://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/468 A preliminary study of training artisans in upgradeable techniques for family owned wells]. Aquamor Report.		Morgan P and Kanyemba A. 2012. [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/468 A preliminary study of training artisans in upgradeable techniques for family owned wells]. Aquamor Report.

	Morgan P. 2015. [~~http~~://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/751 Self-Supply as a means of bringing water to the people of Zimbabwe and its relation to the hand pump program].		Morgan P. 2015. [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/751 Self-Supply as a means of bringing water to the people of Zimbabwe and its relation to the hand pump program].


	'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells and self supply are available on the [~~http~~://www.aquamor.info/family-wells.html Aquamor] and [~~http~~://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/filter/1 RWSN] websites.'''		'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells and self supply are available on the [https://www.aquamor.info/family-wells.html Aquamor] and [https://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/filter/1 RWSN] websites.'''

Beod at 11:08, 2 July 2019

2019-07-02T11:08:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 2 July 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Case studies \| Case studies]] >> Zimbabwe Family Well Upgrading Programme		[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Case studies \| Case studies]] >> Case study: Zimbabwe Family Well Upgrading Programme

	~~This~~ page ~~is still in development - please check back soon for more content~~		Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2019. Case study: Zimbabwe Family Well Upgrading Programme British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. ''Weblink''.

			See also the [[Hydrogeology of Zimbabwe \| '''Hydrogeology of Zimbabwe''']] page.

	~~Go to the [[Hydrogeology of Zimbabwe \| '''Hydrogeology of Zimbabwe''']] page.~~

	Thankyou to Peter Morgan of [http://www.aquamor.info/index.html Aquamor], Zimbabwe for assistance with this page.		Thankyou to Peter Morgan of [http://www.aquamor.info/index.html Aquamor], Zimbabwe for assistance with this page.

Beod: /* Sources */

2018-04-23T13:06:50Z

Sources

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:06, 23 April 2018
Line 109:		Line 109:


	'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells are available on the [http://www.aquamor.info/family-wells.html Aquamor] ~~website~~.'''		'''Many more resources on upgrading family wells and self supply are available on the [http://www.aquamor.info/family-wells.html Aquamor] and [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/filter/1 RWSN] websites.'''

Beod: /* Conclusion */

2018-04-23T13:04:29Z

Conclusion

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:04, 23 April 2018
Line 91:		Line 91:
	===Conclusion===		===Conclusion===

	It is clear that the concept of self-supply is very much alive in Zimbabwe, and if anything has only strengthened in recent years when official water supply programmes have declined in the difficult political and economic circumstances. Where community supplies do not function effectively, family-owned water sources have become the only means of survival for many. The formal Family Well Upgrading Programme of the 1990s ~~expanded~~ improved water supplies to many more people across the country, and led to additional benefits beyond immediate domestic water supply. Informal development and upgrading of family wells is not currently monitored in Zimbabwe but is likely to be continuing across the country. The exact number of privately owned wells today is not known, but may be in excess of 200,000, serving over 1 million people in total. The development of private groundwater supplies is happening not only in rural areas but also in cities, where huge numbers of privately owned boreholes have been drilled in response to the failure of municipal water supplies to deliver water at all, or to deliver water that meets international standards. The unregulated expansion of private groundwater abstraction in densely populated urban areas may face its own problems relating to water quality and sustainability of supply. It remains to be seen how family self-supply of water will continue developing across Zimbabwe in future.		It is clear that the concept of self-supply is very much alive in Zimbabwe, and if anything has only strengthened in recent years when official water supply programmes have declined in the difficult political and economic circumstances. Where community supplies do not function effectively, family-owned water sources have become the only means of survival for many.

			The formal Family Well Upgrading Programme of the 1990s helped to expand improved water supplies to many more people across the country, and led to additional benefits beyond immediate domestic water supply. Informal development and upgrading of family wells is not currently monitored in Zimbabwe but is likely to be continuing across the country. The exact number of privately owned wells today is not known, but may be in excess of 200,000, serving over 1 million people in total. The development of private groundwater supplies is happening not only in rural areas but also in cities, where huge numbers of privately owned boreholes have been drilled in response to the failure of municipal water supplies to deliver water at all, or to deliver water that meets international standards. The unregulated expansion of private groundwater abstraction in densely populated urban areas may face its own problems relating to water quality and sustainability of supply. It remains to be seen how family self-supply of water will continue developing across Zimbabwe in future.

Beod: /* Socio-economic, political and management factors */

2018-04-23T13:02:29Z

Socio-economic, political and management factors

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 23 April 2018
Line 77:		Line 77:
	====Socio-economic, political and management factors====		====Socio-economic, political and management factors====

	From the year 2000, Zimbabwe entered a very troubled political period, resulting in economic and infrastructure decline, and a huge reduction in donor support, which affected many developmental programs including the water supply program. Many community hand pump supplies failed and were not revived~~: currently~~, about 50% of hand pumps are functional. There was also a slowdown in the construction of new family wells. But the many existing family wells that continued to operate successfully in the worsened economic conditions proved that family owned water supplies had great merit. ~~Some~~ families ~~self-upgraded in this period as~~ other supplies ~~of water, such as community hand pumps,~~ became defunct. The skills ~~learned~~ by many during the official programme may have helped to support self-upgrading.		From the year 2000, Zimbabwe entered a very troubled political period, resulting in economic and infrastructure decline, and a huge reduction in donor support, which affected many developmental programs including the water supply program. Many community hand pump supplies failed and were not revived. Currently, only about 50% of hand pumps are thought to be functional. There was also a slowdown in the construction of new family wells. But the many existing family wells that continued to operate successfully in the worsened economic conditions proved that family-owned water supplies had great merit. Many families constructed their own wells when other community water supplies became defunct. The skills and experience gained by many during the official programme may have helped to demonstrate the value and reliability of family-owned supplies, and to support self-upgrading.

	Additionally, the willingness of donors to providing generous subsidies to families for improving family based wells and toilets, which was done in the years after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, has also declined. As a result, the design of the ~~Blair~~ Upgraded Family Well unit was restyled so it could be built in a series of step by step stages at lower cost, where families could perform construction work with minimal or no support from outside - see 'Further developments of the programme', below.		Additionally, the willingness of donors to providing generous subsidies to families for improving family based wells and toilets, which was done in the years after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, has also declined significantly. As a result, the design of the Upgraded Family Well unit was restyled so it could be built in a series of step by step stages at lower cost, where families could perform construction work with minimal or no support from outside - see 'Further developments of the programme', below.

	There has been a lack of accurate monitoring of the successes and weaknesses of the former Programme and the technologies and funding methods used. Limited evaluations have suggested mixed fortunes of upgraded wells, depending on things like the quality of original construction, and ~~who funded~~ and ~~educated the family constructors~~.		There has been a lack of accurate monitoring of the successes and weaknesses of the former Programme and of the technologies and funding methods used. Limited evaluations have suggested mixed fortunes of upgraded wells, depending on things like the quality of original construction, and the amount of government and financial support.

	===Further developments of the programme===		===Further developments of the programme===

Beod: /* Family wells in Zimbabwe */

2018-04-23T12:58:17Z

Family wells in Zimbabwe

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:58, 23 April 2018
Line 17:		Line 17:
	===Family wells in Zimbabwe===		===Family wells in Zimbabwe===

	''Family wells'' is a name given to water wells created by families for their own use – ~~the~~ concept called ‘self supply’. Because they are usually constructed using low technology at low cost, they are generally hand dug and shallow, and tend to be found where water tables are shallow. This has been a traditional way of accessing water across Zimbabwe, and Africa, throughout history. In Zimbabwe in the 1980s, it was estimated that at least 1 million people drew their water from shallow, family or community-dug wells, with over 30% of the population in some areas using such wells daily.		''Family wells'' is a name given to water wells created by families for their own use – a concept called ‘self supply’. Because they are usually constructed using low technology at low cost, they are generally hand dug and shallow, and tend to be found where water tables are shallow. This has been a traditional way of accessing water across Zimbabwe, and Africa, throughout history. In Zimbabwe in the 1980s, it was estimated that at least 1 million people drew their water from shallow, family or community-dug wells, with over 30% of the population in some areas using such wells daily.
	The problem was that most of these wells were either unprotected or poorly protected, and often became contaminated – either because of the runoff of rainwater that was contaminated by waste, or because the buckets and ropes used to draw water became contaminated from unhygienic conditions at the wellhead. Because many of the wells were open at the top, they also posed a risk of falling in – especially for children.		The problem was that most of these wells were either unprotected or poorly protected, and often became contaminated – either because of the runoff of rainwater that was contaminated by waste, or because the buckets and ropes used to draw water became contaminated from unhygienic conditions at the wellhead. Because many of the wells were open at the top, they also posed a risk of falling in – especially for children.

	But despite family wells being so widely used, they were generally not recorded in official inventories of water sources, and not regarded seriously by government or other agencies involved in water supply. The emphasis of official water supply programmes was on installing communal community boreholes or wells with hand pumps, mostly fitted with the Zimbabwe Bush Pump.		But despite family wells being so widely used, they were generally not recorded in official inventories of water sources, and not regarded seriously by government or other agencies involved in water supply. The emphasis of official water supply programmes was on installing communal community boreholes or wells with hand pumps, mostly fitted with the Zimbabwe Bush Pump.

	===The Blair Research Institute – evidence for why upgrading family wells improves their safety===		===The Blair Research Institute – evidence for why upgrading family wells improves their safety===

Beod: /* Introduction */

2018-04-23T12:57:57Z

Introduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 23 April 2018
Line 13:		Line 13:
	===Introduction===		===Introduction===

	Zimbabwe’s National Upgraded Well Programme ran from late 1980s throughout the 1990s, aimed at improving the tens of thousands of privately owned ‘family wells’ across the country. This case study gives an overview of the programme, the problems that it addressed, and how it worked to improve Zimbabwe’s water supply situation.		Zimbabwe’s National Upgraded Well Programme ran from the late 1980s throughout the 1990s, aimed at improving the tens of thousands of privately owned ‘family wells’ across the country. This case study gives an overview of the programme, the problems that it addressed, and how it worked to improve Zimbabwe’s water supply situation.

	===Family wells in Zimbabwe===		===Family wells in Zimbabwe===

Beod: /* Conclusion */

2018-04-17T13:02:03Z

Conclusion

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 17 April 2018
Line 91:		Line 91:
	===Conclusion===		===Conclusion===

	It is clear that the concept of self-supply is very much alive in Zimbabwe, and if anything has only strengthened in recent years when official water supply programmes have declined in the difficult political and economic circumstances. Where community supplies do not function effectively, family-owned water sources have become the only means of survival for many. The formal Family Well Upgrading Programme of the 1990s expanded improved water supplies to many more people across the country, and led to additional benefits beyond immediate domestic water supply. Informal development and upgrading of family wells is not currently monitored in Zimbabwe but is likely to be ~~occurring~~ across the country. The exact number of privately owned wells today is not known, but may be in excess of 200,000, serving over 1 million people in total. The development of private groundwater supplies is happening not only in rural areas but also in cities, where huge numbers of privately owned boreholes have been drilled in response to the failure of municipal water supplies to deliver water at all, or to deliver water that meets international standards. The unregulated expansion of private groundwater abstraction in densely populated urban areas may face its own problems relating to water quality and sustainability of supply. It remains to be seen how family self-supply of water will continue developing across Zimbabwe in future.		It is clear that the concept of self-supply is very much alive in Zimbabwe, and if anything has only strengthened in recent years when official water supply programmes have declined in the difficult political and economic circumstances. Where community supplies do not function effectively, family-owned water sources have become the only means of survival for many. The formal Family Well Upgrading Programme of the 1990s expanded improved water supplies to many more people across the country, and led to additional benefits beyond immediate domestic water supply. Informal development and upgrading of family wells is not currently monitored in Zimbabwe but is likely to be continuing across the country. The exact number of privately owned wells today is not known, but may be in excess of 200,000, serving over 1 million people in total. The development of private groundwater supplies is happening not only in rural areas but also in cities, where huge numbers of privately owned boreholes have been drilled in response to the failure of municipal water supplies to deliver water at all, or to deliver water that meets international standards. The unregulated expansion of private groundwater abstraction in densely populated urban areas may face its own problems relating to water quality and sustainability of supply. It remains to be seen how family self-supply of water will continue developing across Zimbabwe in future.