55 research outputs found
Community management of groundwater resources in rural India : research report : background papers on the causes, symptoms and mitigation of groundwater overdraft in India
No full textThis research report is an output of the project Community Management of Groundwater Resources in
Rural India (Comman), funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) under
its Knowledge and Research (KaR) programme. The primary aim of the project has been to assess the
feasibility of applying local, user-based approaches to groundwater management as a means of
mitigating, or avoiding, groundwater overdraft problems in rural areas. Concern over the sustainability
of groundwater systems and groundwater-dependent livelihoods has grown in recent years. The project
focus on community-level initiatives as a response to such concern is timely given the emphasis now
placed, internationally, on the role of communities in natural resource governance.
This Research Report report draws together six of the background papers prepared during the project
on different aspects of groundwater resources management in India. The report is split into two sections.
The first section looks at the problem of groundwater overdraft from different perspectives – physical
controls and symptoms, socio-economic impacts, and from the wider context of livelihood transition
and groundwater dependency. The second section addresses the management challenge, drawing
distinctions between planned (or conventional) management, and self-initiated user-group management
Sustainability of water services in Ethiopia
No full textEthiopia has made significant progress in extending access to improved water sources under its Universal Access Plan (UAP). Although data are contested, all sources confirm the strong upward trajectory. However, the ability of the country to sustain progress is difficult to predict. One key challenge is ensuring that investment translates into sustainable services that continue to meet users’ needs in terms of water quantity, quality, ease of access, and reliability. Although data are limited, available evidence suggests that many schemes provide unreliable services or fail completely. Service sustainability is not a new issue in Ethiopia, or elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The available evidence suggests that perhaps 40 per cent of hand pumps are non-functional in SSA; in Ethiopia, official data suggest that 20–30 per cent of schemes have failed, or experience frequent outages. But a long-standing emphasis on capital investment and new infrastructure, coupled with weak monitoring and evaluation (M&E), has tended to obscure the problem, and few rigorous studies have been carried out on this topic. In this chapter, we review the evidence from Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region (RiPPLE) research in two Ethiopian woredas (districts) – Halaba Special woredas and Mirab Abaya – looking at water coverage, the number of non-functioning water schemes, and the factors that determine service sustainability, focusing particularly on rural water supply. Drawing on Ethiopian and wider regional research, we then highlight lessons and recommendations for addressing the problem at different decision-making levels
The role of hydrogeology in WASH projects in Africa
No full textAfrica lags behind the rest of the world in achieving international targets for access to safe water and sanitation services, with more than 300 million people without access to an improved water supply and 600 million without adequate sanitation. Therefore, there is renewed emphasis to scale up programmes to increase coverage. Improved water supplies generally rely on the development of groundwater; and sanitation programmes depend on the ability of subsurface to assimilate waste. However, despite the important role of groundwater, hydrogeology and hydrogeologists are rarely given due consideration in planning, implementing and appraising these programmes.
Here we discuss what hydrogeological science can contribute to water supply and sanitation (WASH) programmes, illustrated using examples from several programmes across Africa. We propose a framework to help prioritise the involvement of hydrogeologists and the role of groundwater science in improving WASH and making interventions more cost effective and sustainable. The same level of hydrogeological expertise is not required in all areas, but should be targeted to where the impact will be greatest. However, to make the decision on the level of expertise required for a programme requires the contribution from a hydrogeologist early in the planning cycle. The important role of hydrogeological and hydrochemical mapping and resource evaluation in planning programmes is discussed using examples from Nigeria and Ethiopia. Different methods for groundwater exploration are discussed using a recent programme in northern Ghana. The role of hydrogeologists in overseeing construction is illustrated from a world bank project in Ethiopia to assess levels of corruption in rural water supply. Hydrogeological science also has a crucial role in researching future opportunities and issues as a result of climate change, population growth, and food insecurity.
Hydrogeologists clearly have much to offer WASH programmes. To be most effective hydrogeology should be communicated effectively and in a manner that is easily integrated into existing programmes. Hydrogeologists should also accept that there are some areas where employing modern hydrogeological techniques will not be cost effective and concentrate on the areas where they can best add value
Increasing the uptake of techniques which improve success and sustainability of wells and boreholes: inception report
No full textThis report marks the end of the short inception phase of the DFID KaR project (R8162)
increasing the uptake of techniques which increase the success and sustainability of wells and
boreholes. The project has been designed to contribute to two of DFID’s themes for the water
sector: Improved water and sanitation (W4) through increased uptake of research (X3).
Much of the inception phase has comprised consultation through building an email network,
organising an inception workshop and establishing a website. An email network has been
established for the project comprising over 200 water professionals and scientists with an interest
in rural water supplies. They come from 29 different countries with 18% from government, 23%
from NGOs, 20% from the private sector, 31% researchers and the rest from donors and UN
agencies. Approximately 35% of the network (73 people) have contributed to the project either
through email or attending one of the workshops. Two workshops were held at the WaterAid
offices in London in December 2002. Twenty-eight people attended the workshops and
discussed the contents and potential users of a groundwater development manual.
During the inception phase of the project, several key decisions have been made.
1. The completion date of the project has been changed from March to September 2004, to
account for the 5-month delay in the project start date (subject to final approval from DFID).
This will allow for the project activities the time originally envisaged in the project proposal.
2. A list of contents has been developed for the manual. This was developed from initial
comments from the network and the workshops and then subsequently reviewed.
3. The target users are the implementers of rural water supply projects throughout sub-Saharan
Africa. The focus of the manual is to provide practical information for project engineers in
NGOs and local government, public sector hydrogeologists, drilling teams and private sector
groundwater companies. However, in response to feedback during consultation, one chapter
will discuss project management issues.
4. The geographical focus of the manual is sub-Saharan Africa with application to parts of
south Asia.
5. Additional collaborators to WaterAid have been found for the project: UNICEF (and state
government) in Nigeria and DWAF in South Africa. Both collaborators will help to field test
the manual.
6. Feedback has indicated a strong demand for guidance on water quality, as well as quantity.
This will be a challenging task and project staffing may have to be changed slightly to ensure
sufficient experience is available within the project team.
7. ITDG have agreed to publish, market and distribute the manual, first as a black and white
illustrated book, but also seeking electronic means in the future. For the target users the
practicality, portability, and robustness of a book outway the benefits of cost and adaptability
that solely electronic publication affords.
8. Evolution of the manual beyond the present project could be coordinated through the DFID
resource centre OASIS. Feedback could be channelled from the authors to OASIS to be
incorporated into any further editions
Developing groundwater for secure rural water supplies in Africa
No full textIn sub-Saharan Africa 85% of those without access to safe water live in rural areas where the consequent poverty and ill health disproportionately affect women and children. The widespread development of groundwater is the most affordable and sustainable way of improving access to secure water for the rural poor on the scale required to achieve current coverage targets. However, groundwater resources vary considerably across the continent, and the sustainable development of the resource depends on an accurate understanding of the hydrogeology. To develop secure water supplies, the quantity, quality and sustainability of groundwater resources must be known to ensure that key decisions are informed by knowledge of resource conditions. Communities must also be involved at every stage of the process and given the authority to manage and maintain sources. There is a danger that the current pressure to achieve ambitious coverage targets will result in short cuts being taken and, although many new sources are constructed, they will not be secure
The environmental dimensions of universal access to safe water
No full textThe
world
faces
a
major
challenge
in
adapting
to
a
future
where
demand
for
water
is
accelerating,
but
supply
remains
essentially
fixed
and
increasingly
variable.
Meeting
this
challenge
is
central
to
achieving
the
Sustainable
Development
Goals
(SDGs)
as
water
is
a
common
denominator
linking
health,
food
security
and
nutrition,
clean
energy,
sustainable
cities,
climate
action,
gender
equality
and
the
protection
of
ecosystems.
The
overall
framing
of
the
SDGs,
and
Goal
6
specifically,
marked
a
desire
to
unite
the
hitherto
polarised
spheres
of
environment
and
development,
recognising
the
need
to
both
develop
water
resources
for
domestic
and
productive
uses,
and
to
protect
them
for
current
and
future
generations
(1,
2).
Against
this
background,
Goal
6
‐
Ensuring
availability
and
sustainable
management
of
water
and
sanitation
for
all
by
2030
–
represents
a
hard
‐
won
marriage
of
environmental
and
developmental
objectives.
But
can
we
‘have
our
cake
and
eat
it?’
Unlike
energy,
where
tradeoffs
between
energy
expansion
and
environmental
degradation
can
be
negated
through
renewables,
extending
access
to
water
without
a
commensurate
increase
in
‘efficiency’,
or
reallocation
from
another
use/user,
may
increase
pressure
on
a
finite
resource.
In
a
2050
world
of
almost
10
billion
people
1
requiring
food,
energy
and
drinking
water,
demands
and
trade
‐
offs
will
increas
Total synthesis of Fluoxetine & Duloxetine through an in situ imine formation/borylation/transimination and reduction approach
No full textauthor can archive pre-print (ie pre-refereeing), 12 meses de embargo.
Post print subject to Restrictions below, author can archive post-print (ie final draft post-refereeing)
DOI: 10.1039/c4ob01142b
URL: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2014/OB/C4OB01142B#!divAbstract
Filiació URV: SIWe report efficient, catalytic, asymmetric total syntheses of both (R)-Fluoxetine and (S)-Duloxetine from ¿¿¿-unsaturated aldehydes conducting five sequential one pot steps (imine formation / copper mediated ¿-borylation / transimination / reduction / oxidation) followed by the specific ether group formation which deliver to the desired products (R)-Fluoxetine in 45% yield (96% e.e.) and (S)-Duloxetine in 47% yield (94% e.e.
Environmental Assessment and Risk Screening for Rural Water Supply: Guidance note developed for the SWIFT Consortium
No full textImproving access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is a vital element for poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa. Long-term increase in coverage depends on many factors, including sound financing, community engagement in the design and implementation of schemes, and the training of village mechanics, local government and entrepreneurs in the upkeep and repair of systems. For a scheme to be sustainable, planning also needs to consider whether there is enough water of suitable quality to meet demand across seasons and between good and bad years. Flooding, land degradation and other environmental risks to water systems also need to be addressed, especially as climate change accelerates.
This guide aims to show how organizations implementing WASH programmes, working in partnership with communities, can integrate these concerns into their activities and complement existing approaches such as Water Safety Planning (WSP). The focus of the guide is on groundwater-based, community-managed wells and springs in rural areas ' systems that are potentially most vulnerable to changes in rainfall and in demand due to population growth.
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Potential Impact of Climate Change on Improved and Unimproved Water Supplies in Africa
No full textWith significant climate change predicted in Africa over the next century, this chapter explores a key question: how will rural water supplies in Africa be affected ? Approximately 550 million people in Africa live in rural communities and are reliant on water resources within walking distance of their community for drinking water. Less than half have access to improved sources (generally large diameter wells, springs or boreholes equipped with hand pumps); the majority rely on unimproved sources, such as open water and shallow wells. Major climate modelling uncertainties, combined with rapid socio-economic change, make predicting the future state of African water resources difficult; an appropriate response to climate change is to assume much greater uncertainty in climate and intensification of past climate variability. Based on this assumption the following should be considered:Those relying on unimproved water sources (300 million in rural Africa) are likely to be most affected by climate change because unimproved sources often use highly vulnerable water resources.Improved rural water supplies in Africa are overwhelmingly dependent on groundwater, due to the unreliability of other sources.Climate change is unlikely to lead to a continent-wide failure of improved rural water sources that access deeper groundwater (generally over 20 metres below ground surface) through boreholes or deep wells. This is because groundwater-based domestic supply requires little recharge, and the groundwater resources at depth will generally be of sufficient storage capacity to remain a secure water resource. However, a significant minority of people could be affected if the frequency and length of drought increases – particularly those in areas with limited groundwater storage.In most areas, the key determinants of water security will continue to be driven by access to water rather than absolute water availability. Extending access, and ensuring that targeting and technology decisions are informed by an understanding of groundwater conditions, will become increasingly important.Accelerating groundwater development for irrigation could increase food production, raise farm incomes and reduce overall vulnerability. However, ad hoc development could threaten domestic supplies and, in some areas, lead to groundwater depletion.
Although climate change will undoubtedly be important in determining future water security, other drivers (such as population growth and rising food demands) are likely to provide greater pressure on rural water supplies.</jats:p
Rural water supply corruption in Ethiopia
No full textIn Ethiopia, investment in rural water supply underpins the government’s
poverty reduction efforts. The challenge is huge: roughly 50 percent of
the (mainly rural) population still have no access to safe water, and the
country has the highest number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa without
access to improved water supply and sanitation. The consequences are
dire: every year, roughly 250,000 children die from diseases related to
poor water and sanitation, and many others face the daily grind of collecting
water from distant sources
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