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| Productive Water Points in Dryland Areas: Guidelines on integrated planning in rural water supply |
| The book demonstrates how increasing the availability of water to communities makes it possible to embark on many activities with economic value. The technical design, and the planning, implementation and community management of productive water points is considered in detail. |
| Background Lack of water is limiting household and community activities for millions of people living in dryland areas. When more water is available, not only are basic drinking and washing needs satisfied but other activities with a high economic value become feasible, such as small scale irrigation, fruit orchards, growing livestock feed, dairy units, fish farming and brick-making. The research in southern Africa has shed light on why conventional wells and boreholes fail, on the potential of the groundwater resource to support production through improved siting and selection of appropriate well designs and on the impacts that productive water points can have on community resource management and livelihood strategies. The Book The book is the synthesis of lessons learnt in a decade developing productive water points using both groundwater and surface water resources in southern Africa. The planning, siting, selection, implementation and management of productive water points in drought-prone areas are considered along with the critical issue of working in partnership with the community. Although the book draws extensively on design and construction experience in southern Africa (notably Zambia and Zimbabwe) the guidelines are considered relevant to many dryland areas around the world. What it covers The book provides an overview of the groundwater resource and why wells and boreholes fail. Alternative well designs are described and classified to enable siting and selection of the most appropriate technology in different ground conditions. Economic costs and benefits are considered for the various ground and surface water options available. These are then compared with standard domestic water points. |
The
book provides flow charts, decision-trees and detailed information on how
to make more effective use of existing water points and on siting, selecting
and constructing new water points of appropriate design. The book advocates a step-wise approach to working in partnership with the community, placing emphasis on local ownership and participation throughout all stages from planning and design to construction, operation and maintenance. Issues emerging at productive water points in Southern Africa are considered as well as environmental issues such as the sustainability of the groundwater resource. References are listed after each chapter to help the reader understand the origin of the material presented and to follow it up if desired. Contributors Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK; British Geological Survey, Wallingford, UK; AGRITEX, Zimbabwe. Intended users The book is intended for use by planners and practitioners in rural water supply and aims to enable them to choose and implement the most appropriate and cost-effective productive water point option in drought-prone areas. Lovell, C, 2000. Productive water points in dryland areas: Guidelines on integrated planning for rural water supply. ITDG Publishing. ISBN 1 85339 516 1. |
| For a hard copy of the book contact: ITDG publishing, 103/105 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4HL, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7436 9761, Fax: +44 (0)20 7436 2013, Website: http://www.itdgpublishing.org.uk/ |
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