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Niger
Scale: It is estimated that more than 18,000 hand drilled wells have been constructed in Niger.

Use: Initially, wells were for small-scale irrigation but people also used them for domestic use. Some wells have been drilled specifically for drinking water (household and community).
Expertise: Over 40 small enterprises undertake hand augering.
Techniques: Mainly hand augering.  A couple of enterprises are using jetting techniques. 

Pumps installed on hand-drilled wells: On irrigation wells treadle pumps are mainly used, and, to a lesser extent piston pumps.  Thousands of small motorised pumps have been installed in the Tarka Valley, Goulbi, Maradi and dallols. For drinking water wells, a simple piston pump and, more recently the rope pump and Canzee pumps have been utilised.

History: In much of Niger, hand dug wells have been used as water sources for generations. In addition to these countless traditional wells, it was estimated in 2003 that 13,000 cement lined wells and 7,000 machine drilled boreholes have been constructed. Hand augering has a 30-year history in Niger. It was initiated by Richard Koegel in the 1960s and again by an American Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s. In the late 1980s a Lutheran World Relief (LWR) initiative introduced hand auger drilling, first in eastern Niger, and then in the South. As a result of this work, which was championed by Jon Naugle, it was estimated that 3,500 wells had been drilled by hand by 1996.

The Projet Basse Vallée de la Tarka (Tarka Valley Project), the Projet Pilot de I’Irrigation Privée (PPIP I) and the Projet de I’Irrigation Privée (PIP II) were the three main projects that drove the uptake of hand drilled wells (mainly for irrigation) from the early 1990s through to 2005.  Currently, in many areas where hand drilling is feasible, the drilling enterprises are paid directly by end users to construct wells for them. In addition to the numerous treadle pump manufacturers in Niger, rope pumps are being fabricated in Niamey, Maradi and Zinder. 

Enterpise Works/VITA (EWV) became involved in hand drilling in Niger in 1997 and Winrock in 2007. In addition to promoting hand drilled wells for irrigation, these organisations have been promoting community wells and introducing hand percussion and rota-sludge drilling technologies. Some of this work has been supported by UNICEF.

Standards: There are currently no documented national standards for hand drilled wells.

Costs:

EWV figures -

  • Irrigation wells – US$ 50;
  • Drinking water wells – US$ 1,800 to US$ 3,000 (higher costs include training and pump).

Winrock figures - 

  • Around $2,000 to $3,000, depending on soil conditions (includes pump & installation and follow up as well as training of stakeholders).

Suitable Areas:  Dallo Bosso, Dallo Maouri, Tarka Valley, the Korama (small valleys and basins) south of Zinder, Goulbi N’Kaba, Dosso;  some areas along the Komadougou River and other smaller alluvial valleys in Maradi and Matamey.

Estimated potential target population: Around 20% of the total population of these areas.  This is a rough estimation based on the rural population living near the river basins.

Hydrogeological Mapping: A mapping exercise of hand drilling potential in of the four regions of Zinder, Maradi, Tahoua and Dosso) is available (PRACTICA, UNICEF and Ministère Hydraulique, 2009).

Water Quality: Tests carried out. Data not published.

Organisations involved:

Documentation:

UNICEF, Practica Foundation and Enterprise Works/VITA. 2009. Sustainable transfer of manual well drilling to the private sector in Niger Case Study published by UNICEF, Practica Foundation and Enterprise Works/VITA

Beaujault P., Abdou O. 2009. Niger Low Cost Technologies for potable water and irrigation. Winrock International (available from author: pbeaujault@winrock.org).

Danert K. 2006.  A brief history of hand drilled wells in Niger: Only the beginning. RWSN/WSP Field Note. (available from RWSN website: http://www.rwsn.ch)

PRACTICA,  UNICEF and Ministère Hydraulique. 2009. Etude des possibilités d’intégrer les Forages à faible coût au dispositif d’Alimentation en Eau des communautés rurales au Niger.

Last update of information: May 2009.