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.
Product Sheet: Jetting
Manual drilling has proven to be a successful, lower‐cost approach to machine drilling and hand digging. Drilling these ‘shallow’ water wells by hand reduces the price of a well by a factor 4 to 10, enabling rural people to have access to water independently through the private sector and development programs to expand their reach.
Product Sheet: Rope pump
The rope pump is a proven household level pump for drinking water and small scale productive use in areas with water tables up to 35m depth. It combines low‐cost, high levels of on‐site reparability and suitability for local production, making it a tool that users can invest in themselves.
Product Sheet: Rota Sludge Manual drilling
Rota‐sludge manual drilling has proven to be a successful, low‐cost alternative for machine drilling and hand digging wells. Drilling shallow water wells by hand reduces the price of a well by a factor of 4 to 10, enabling rural people to have access to water independently through the private sector.
Product Sheet: Solar steam pump
With access to small scale irrigation, marginalized farmers are able to secure their yield and in many cases grow an additional crop in the dry season. Compared to fossil fuel‐powered irrigation pumpsets, this solar powered pumpset saves farmers running costs and is environmental friendly.
Product Sheet: Volanta handpump
Volanta is a high‐end community drinking water pump that can lift water from greater depths than many alternatives. The Volanta pump differs from other pumps with its durable and corrosion free construction, reducing maintenance and recurrent costs. It is designed for local production, increasing availability of spare parts.
Product Sheet: Volanta Solar Pump
Within the aim of exploring new applications for low‐cost renewable energy, PRACTICA is developing a thermal solar powered, steam driven Volanta pump, a robust deep well pump for community water supply.
The Lohmann experience
A concluding document about the development of a micro-diesel engine based on the Lohmann homogeneous charge compression ignition engine.
Impact of manual drilling for the construction of sustainable water-points in Chad
This case study examines the impact of professional manual drilling operations on the problem of increasing the rate of delivery of improved water supply in Chad.
In the master plan of water supply and sanitation (2002) it was recognized that costly, mechanised drilling alone will not satisfy the water demand in all areas of the country. A decision was made, to actively promote manually drilled boreholes in those areas where such technology was appropriate to increase the coverage of improved drinking water supply in Chad.; This promotional work has, with the support of UNICEF, been implemented through the Ministry of Fishing, Pastoral and Rural Hydraulics. A key part of this strategy has included development of the capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) to carry out such work and has further included a mechanism to monitor the quality of the works. This case study shows that effective use of manual drilling in Chad can be highly significant in helping to attain the Millennium Development Goals in the water sector.
Mapping areas with a good manual drilling potential
Fiche informative sur la méthodologie employée pour cartographier les zones favorables au forage manuel.
The Ghana rain gutter
Manual on the production of rain gutters, as part of an integral system for rain water harvesting. Rain gutters can be made of many materials and in many shapes. It depends on the availability of raw materials, tools, traditions and requirements which type a customer likes to purchase. The aim of the project is to achieve a very low cost water harvesting system.
Base test report of Micro diesel prototypes
This report is description of a base test in which 3 prototypes of a 18cc 2-stroke self-igniting stationary engine are compared to the Lohmann auxiliary engine it originates from. This auxiliary engine was produced in the 1950’s.
Silver impregnated ceramic water filter – Flowrate versus the removal efficiency of pathogens
The silver impregnated Ceramic Water Filter is a House Water Treatment system (HWT). Water is poured into the filter and is filtered through the ceramics. Waters (rain, lake, tap etc.) are often contaminated with pathogens (bacteria, viruses and protozoa). The filtered water, greatly reduced in pathogens, drips in the receptacle and can be tapped from this receptacle by the user. In Cambodia, a 46% reduction in diarrheas diseases of users versus non-users of the filter was determined.
Feasibility Map of Manual Drilling in Ziway, Ethiopia
Feasibility map and location of manually drilled wells around Ziway, Ethiopia. All wells are located in the area of good feasibility surrounding the lakes.
Production & testing animal driven deepwell pump
Project report on an experimental study to use animal traction for a deepwell pump in Ethiopia. This report has been produced as one of the outputs of the project ‘Production and testing of an animal driven deepwell pump in Ethiopia’. This project is financed by JICA Ethiopia and executed in cooperation with the Ethiopian Water Technology Centre (EWTEC). Other outputs that have been produced in the context of this project are:
– One working prototype of the Animal driven deepwell pump installed in the vicinity of Butajira;
– A set of production drawings of the pump as installed in the field;
– A CD-ROM with photo and video material of the production, installation and testing of the pump as well as soft copies (pdf and AutoCAD 2005 and LT) of the workshop production drawings.
Ceramic silver impregnated pot filters for household drinking water treatment in developing countries
The objective of this study is to provide reliable performance data under laboratory conditions for ceramic silver impregnated pot filters to help speeding-up and scaling-up their implementation by organisations worldwide.
Smart Water Solutions – Innovative technologies
Examples of innovative, low-cost technologies for wells, pumps, storage, irrigation and water treatment. This booklet on water, gives examples of innovations such as the use of sunlight to purify water, effective low-cost water filters, low-cost drip irrigation and locally produced hand pumps that are five times cheaper than imported pumps. By using these technologies, poor rural families can double or even triple their annual income. The technologies described are a source of inspiration. This booklet is avaiable in English, French, portuguese and spanish.
Negotiating Technology – The role of local technicians in North – South technology transfer in North Bengal, India
MSc Thesis : The role of local technicians in North – South technology transfer in North Bengal, India
Motorized rope pumps in Senegal
This report evaluates and suggests improvements for the production of conventional rope pumps and the application of motorised rope pumps in Ziguinchor, Senegal. The document includes technical drawings and check-lists.
Technology Innovation and Promotion in Practice – Pumps, Channels and Wells
Book on reducing the fuel consumption, emissions and costs of irrigation technologies. Based on field experiences a number of interventions in India has been evaluated and innovative win-win solutions are presented.