Our publications
Resources produced during our past projects are accessible here.
For more than 10 years, we have capitalised documents on groundwater development, irrigation, drinking water supply and sanitation. You can find lessons learnt from the field, project reports, technical sheets, (training) manuals, videos, etc.
Check out and share the information you are interested in with the rest of the sector in order to support local enterprises and strengthen their technical and business skills.
Professionalisation of manual drilling
Manual well drilling offers a range of low-cost techniques that can be used by local enterprises to drill wells in remote areas. This video shows how Unicef, EnterpriseWorks and Practica Foundation have built professional drilling sectors throughout Africa. Several manual drilling techniques as well as the impact of the project and the methods used to build the capacity of local enterprises are presented.
Installation & Use – Emergency Rotary Jetting Kit
This time lapse video shows the drilling and installation of a well using the emergency jetting kit that we developed. It explains the different steps of the manual drilling method while showing how it is made in practice. You can learn more about the rotary jetting kit via this page.
Relief VS development lessons from well drilling
The case of well drilling during the S(P)EEDKITS project is used to illustrate the overlap between relief and development settings despite considerable differences in context and goals.
This paper was written by three Practica experts and presented at the 38th WEDC International Conference, Loughborough University, UK, 2015: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services beyond 2015: Improving Access and Sustainability
http://www.wedcconference.co.uk/
Expanding preparedness – The S(P)EED Water Tool
The S(P)EED decision support tool attempts to reconcile emergency response goals of water delivery with considerations of the water sector development.
This paper, written by three Practica experts, was presented at the 38th WEDC International Conference, Loughborough University, UK, 2015: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services beyond 2015: Improving Access and Sustainability
http://www.wedcconference.co.uk/
Bacteria and virus removal effectiveness of ceramic pot filters with different silver applications in a long term experiment
The aim of this study was to determine the role of silver during the filtration and subsequent storage. Twenty-two CPFs with three different silver applications (non, only outside and both sides) were compared in a long-term loading experiment with
Escherichia coli (K12 and WR1) and MS2 bacteriophages in natural challenge water under highly controlled laboratory circumstances.
Results of applied research in the production and performance of ceramic pot filters – presentation
Research on ceramic pot filter production and performance on the removal of bacteria and viruses.
Renewable energy for smallholder irrigation
This study summarizes experiences using Renewable Energy (RE) water pumping options as irrigation by smallholder farmers in developing countries. It includes an overview of conventional technologies (petrol and diesel pumpsets),along with an
inventory of RE alternatives (windpumps, solar Photo Voltaic[PV] pumps, solar thermal pumps and biogas). Other technologies included in this study are hydram pumps, biomass, bio-fuel and hybrid systems, which all have limited potential for smallholder
irrigation.
Flood Based Irrigation in the White Volta Sub Basin: Status and Potential
In this paper particularly the water management practices of the White Volta sub basin is discussed, due to its central location. The findings imply that in order to achieve high impact, irrigation development in sub-Saharan Africa should consider the economic status of the users and their ability to make the best out of the technology in terms of productivity. Moreover, technologies that give farmers full control over the water should be preferred. Most of the recent irrigation technologies identified in the White Volta sub-basin are indigenous and locally managed. Farmers in the sub-basin have successfully managed these technologies because they are simple and relatively inexpensive.
Flood wells in Ethiopia – Pilot Report
Flood wells are an innovative concept that could provide smallholder farmers in floodplains with private access to irrigation water. This could increase the productivity of floodplains drastically, as its current use is only marginal while its potential for cash crop production is enormous. Contrary to conventional hand-dug wells, flood wells do not collapse in the rainy season and allow farmers to irrigate right after the floods recede. The concept could become of great value to increase food security and combat poverty in floodplains throughout Africa.
Downstream of the Toilet: Transforming Poo into Profit
A briefing note. Current trends necessitate the emergence of alternative service delivery options to manage fecal sludge downstream of the toilet in ways that are less resource intensive, yet environmentally safe and economically sustainable for resource-poor environments.
Hygienic latrine emptying manual
The hygienic emptying of latrine pits is an essential necessity in a context where sanitation in developing countries increasingly relies on stand-alone systems that all require emptying operations at some point.
The term “alternative hygienic emptying” incorporates two concepts which constitute real challenges on the technical, sociological and economic levels. Indeed, the ambition is to be able to develop quality emptying services, accessible to all, in contexts where the financial resources of the communities are very limited, where the accessibility of homes is particularly complex (cramped alleys, non-motorable paths) and strong reluctance vis-à-vis the sanitation professions.
Handpump Sustainability (mid-term report)
This report identifies the main problems related to handpump sustainability, and looks for promising alternatives to the current approaches to manage handpumps. The focus is on long term sustainability in a development context, in contrast to emergency situations where sustainability is often determined for a shorter period.
Capitalisation d’Expériences sur les Forages Manuels à Madagascar
Des techniques appropriées au contexte malgache et adoptées par les opérateurs sont le well jetting, rota sludge et madrill.
La recherche action est porteuse d’améliorations constantes et elle apporte une réponse aux contraintes rencontrées par les utilisateurs.
Well drilling: Sludging
Variations of four manual drilling technologies are being used, each with their own advantages, disadvantages and suitability for different geological conditions. This handbook describes the practical aspects of the drilling technique Sludging and is part of a series of 5 handbooks providing the basis for local entrepreneurs to start practicing affordable well drilling.
Lessons learned in the development of smallholder private irrigation for high-value crops in West Africa
The objective of this report is to identify, characterize, and evaluate best practices in smallholder private irrigation in West Africa. The report presents a comparative assessment of the smallholder private irrigation initiatives in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. Issues discussed include: the potential and impacts of new technologies; the successes and challenges of different approaches to develop smallholder private irrigation (promotion of technologies, institutional arrangements, advisory and financial services, and environmental impact mitigation); and the lessons learned.
Rope Pump Manual
Drinking water handpumps are devices that use manual power to pump groundwater to the surface. There is a full range of different pumps available on the market, varying in pumping mechanism, depth range, price, quality, etc. This manual is a support for trainings.
Investigation Critical Parameters in the Production of Ceramic Water Filters
Presentation of the preliminary findings of an Investigation of the Critical Parameters in the Production of Ceramic Water Filters.
Study on the feasibility of manual drilling – Benin
In order to achieve development objectives, the UNICEF, launched this project called “Feasibility study of manual drilling in Benin; Identification of potentially favorable areas”. Its objective is to have a vision of the country’s potential for the implementation of low-cost manual drilling techniques as a complementary method for access to water of rural communities.
Investigation of the Critical Parameters in the Production of Ceramic Water Filters
A ceramic pot filter is a point-of-use water treatment system produced in small factories in developing countries. The main treatment goal is disinfection of the water. In Hunter’s 2009 meta-study, the ceramic pot filter appeared to be the most efficient household water treatment system out of four evaluated systems, especially on the long term. Worldwide, 22 factories produce ceramic filter pots. It is a relatively simple production process.
Low cost systems for the management of sludge from toilets and shower units
In the context where proper excreta disposal is not available, efforts to build and use latrines only delay the impact of open defecation instead of eliminating it. This applies to public toilet and shower units found in neighborhoods where households cannot build their own facilities or to congested areas such as marketplaces and bus stations. These facilities generate significant amounts of sludge, which presents a very complex management issue.
At the behest of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded WASHplus project, PRACTICA assessed the current situation and suggested appropriate options for the management of sludge from three toilet and shower units. These units were rehabilitated in July 2010 by the USAID Hygiene Improvement Project (HIP) in two regional sites, Ambositra and Mahanoro.