Why Groundwater?
Water security remains a key issue for much of the world, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water (UN Stats 2019 - Sustainable Development Goals).
Groundwater is the solution for many communities, especially in rural areas with extended dry seasons, often made worse and less predictable by climate change.
Water is essential for improved health, economic development and food security and as populations continue to grow and develop there is a growing demand for greater numbers of boreholes to be drilled.
Importantly, poorly sited and constructed boreholes, which are common across the globe, lead to high rates of borehole failure. Poorly managed groundwater resources can lead to over abstraction and degradation of aquifer systems.
Training needs to be given to professionals working in the groundwater sector to ensure boreholes are properly constructed and aquifer are properly managed and monitored to ensure that our precious water resources are available for current and future generations.
What is the Groundwater Development School?
The Groundwater Development School (GDS) is a 4-week training programme run by Groundwater Relief that educates young professionals on every aspect of siting, drilling, constructing and managing a borehole.
Attendees will learn:
-
How to site a borehole
Practical and theoretical training in borehole siting using remote sensing, field data, geological mapping and Groundwater Relief’s geophysical survey equipment.
-
Contract management
Carefully developed contracts are essential for ensuring the construction of a high quality borehole. Participants will be taught the ins and outs of writing contracts and then using contracts to manage contractors.
-
How to supervise the construction of a borehole
Practical and theoretical training in the drilling supervision and construction of a borehole using drilling equipment supplied by a partnered local contractor. This would include training on how to: sample and log the geology encountered; design a borehole based on the lithology logged; install a borehole casing and screen, gravel pack and sanitary seal; then develop the borehole.
-
How to carry out pumping tests
Practical and theoretical training in pumping tests, including how to carry out a constant rate, recovery and step test. Analysis of pumping test data to determine aquifer potential and to determine the optimum pump to be installed into the borehole.
-
How to construct a water system
Practical and theoretical training on how to construct the apron and well head and how to design (based on the pumping test results and water quality of the borehole) the pipe, storage, treatment and distribution infrastructure for the water being pumped out the borehole.
Course Information
The course is now full for 2021. We will update the website in due course with details of the next Groundwater Development School in 2022.
About Groundwater Relief
Groundwater Relief is a UK registered charity that specialises in providing technical support to organisations engaged in supplying water to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. Via our membership of over 320 technical experts, we help organisations construct and manage groundwater infrastructure in a professional, responsible, cost effective and sustainable way, engaging local authorities, companies and institutions.
We have built up a trusted reputation with many of the major UN and International Non-Governmental Organisations. Since our conception Groundwater Relief has undertaken over 100 projects in Africa, Latin America and in Asia. This work has included groundwater exploration and groundwater resource assessments, groundwater modelling, geological mapping, supervising drilling campaigns, setting up groundwater monitoring programmes, developing data management systems, capacity building and training local organisations.
In 2013 Groundwater Relief successfully set up a drilling supervision course in the UK with collaboration with Cranfield University and RedR. This course has been running successfully ever since. Each year Groundwater Relief carries out bespoke training for humanitarian and development workers in many places across the world. Through our membership of over 320 groundwater experts we have support from some of the worlds leading groundwater experts. We are ideally placed to run this school.
Downloads:
- GWR GDS Application Form (40kb, word)