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This Site Well Site Location Should First Be Like 354 Share
Hygiene Education First of all, the drill rig being used must be able to penetrate the
formations in the area and reach groundwater within the depth limit of
Hand Pumps
the rig.
Groundwater Sources
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Secondly, wells must be located far enough away from latrines and other
Water Treatment places where human and animal waste is concentrated to prevent the
introduction of disease-causing pathogens from entering the well water.
Biosand Filters
Ceramic Filters
If a well is located far enough away from a latrine, the soil is able to filter
Sawyer Filters out harmful organisms before they reach the well. To determine the
minimum safe separation distance between latrine and well we need to
Sanitation 1
know three things: Locating Groundwater
Sanitation 2
1. Direction the groundwater is moving.
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2. Distance between the bottom of the latrine and the water table.
Field Notes
Video Library 3. Type of soil between the bottom of the latrine and the water table.
Get Involved Following these guidelines (or any well site placement guidelines) will not
guarantee that a well will be free from bacterial contamination. The well
Organizations
must also be properly constructed and the well water tested to assure the
Manual Well Digging
Reading Mat'l best possible water quality.
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Groundwater Flow Direction
The distance between the bottom of the latrine and the water table and
the type of soil that lies between the bottom of the latrine and the water
table will determine the minimum safe separation distance between the
latrine and the well.
1. There is clay, silt or fine sand between the bottom of the latrine and
2. The well is located at least 15 meters from the latrine Pump Pad Construction
1. There is medium sand or gravel between the bottom of the latrine and
the water table.
Well Disinfection
If the bottom of the latrine is at the water table, or close to it, then
disease-causing organisms can get into the ground water. Finer grains
soils, like clay, silt, or fine sand can more easily filter out pathogens than
coarse sand or gravel.
So, the minimum safe separation distance is shorter for the finer soils
than it is for the coarse soils. In either case, if flow direction is known, it
is best to put the well up-gradient from the latrine.
Environmental Factors
2. The type of soil near the surface is also important. As mentioned, clay,
silt, and fine sand can keep contaminants from reaching the groundwater.
3. Surface waters, like streams, rivers, and ponds, may contain biological,
agricultural, or industrial contamination so wells should be located at
least 15 meters away from them.
4. Avoid areas that get flooded, since people cannot get to the well to the
well during times of high water and the well may be contaminated by
floodwaters overflowing and seeping into the well.
5. The well site should be elevated enough to direct surface runoff away
from it.
Cultural Factors
2. If there are more people who want to use the well than the well can
support, people will not have enough water for good health. One well for
every 300 people is an appropriate goal. A large village may need several
wells in order to experience all the benefits of clean water.
5. Even a small village may have a well thought-out plan for growth. So,
consider what future development may take place in the village and
locate the well in a place that will not conflict with that growth.
10. Before drilling, identify any underground pipes that might run near
the well site.
11. If a new well is placed too close to another well that is still being
used, they may interfere with each other. This can reduce the amount of
water that each well is able to produce. The appropriate separation
distance depends on the pumping rate of the wells and the characteristics
of the aquifer.
12. An abandoned well may be filled with trash. Since it probably reaches
to the water table, this can be a serious source of groundwater
contamination. Use the “safe separation distance” criteria for a latrine
that contacts the groundwater.
Property Ownership
If you are involved in surveying and walking around trying to find the
best location for a well, it is always important to ask permission before
walking around and looking at things.
The key is for the community to discuss the issue and agree on a solution
before the well is drilled.
The things that the Water Committee takes responsibility for include;
collecting fees, establishing operating times (especially important if the
well has limited yield), keeping the pump pad clean, and maintaining and
repairing the pump.
The organization or individuals who construct the well may need to advise
the Water Committee, but the policies are determined by the community.
The Water Committee collects this fee from the users of the well. This
arrangement guarantees the community a fixed cost for their water
supply and gives the local constructor a regular income.
Any contractual agreements are between the property owner and the
community. In some communities it may be difficult for the leaders to
impose any kind of fees, so this arrangement gets around that problem.
The people of the community are given a choice; they can either pay for
safe water or get contaminated water for free. If the fee is based on water
usage, then people will tend to use the safe water for drinking and
cooking, and use other sources for washing and activities where water
quality is not critical.
In these cases, making a simple map helps identify the most important
factors to consider.
Start from the preferred well site location; this is usually suggested by
community leaders or property owner. Walk around the well site looking
for possible sources of contamination within 10, 20, and 30 meters of the
well. If the soil is gravel and the water table high, you may need to
search for contamination sources as far away as 500 meters away.
Make a simple sketch of what you find. The map does not have to be
exact. Measure distances from the well site for each source of
contamination you find. Take topography into account because it
influences the direction of groundwater flow.
If you find a source of contamination too close to the proposed well site,
then discuss the problem with the community leaders or property owner.
Help them consider a better well site.
Work with them to find the best place for the new well, given the
restrictions of the environmental and cultural factors. Remember that
finding the best well site often requires tact and compromise.
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