Mali

Use: Domestic Water Supplies

Expertise: Two local enterprises in Gao were trained in the hand auger technique but only one enterprise is still active.

Techniques: Hand augering, manual percussion drilling

Pumps installed on hand drilled wells: Rope Pumps.

History: Oxfam GB introduced hand drilling in Gao in July 2007 (ECHO funding). Following initial trials (based on information from documents of the technique), hand drillers from Niger went to Mali to provide training in 2008. By mid 2009, 66 hand-drilled tubewells mostly using the hand-augering methods had been constructed, with more planned. Currently ECHO continues to fund this work as part of a response to malnutrition in Bourem.

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

Costs: According to Oxfam, it currently costs 2,049,600 FCFA (~US$ 4,300) for a 13m deep hand drilled well equipped with a rope pump.

Suitable Areas: Areas of high groundwater table along the length of the Niger River.

Estimated potential target population: No estimates have yet been made.

Hydrogeological Mapping: Hydrogeological Studies have been undertaken for specific sites selected for hand drilled wells. 

Water Quality: Water points have been tested by Oxfam and Winrock but reports have not been published.

Organisations involved:

• Oxfam GB (Abdoul Hamid, AAHamid@oxfam.org.uk and Trish Morrow, TMorrow@Oxfam.org.uk) 
• Winrock International (Patrice Beaujault, beaujault@winrock-mali.org).

Documentation: No.