Angola

SUMMARY

In Nov/Dec, 2009, a group from Water4 traveled to Ethiopia and then to Angola (an overall 40-day trip!) to conduct various water projects. Utilizing a combination of tools, including the Hydromissions 6″ auger, a modified EXP-50 system, and a pump of their own design.

Due to uncertainties about the shipment clearing customs, the decision was made to depart from Huambo (an 8-hour drive from Luanda) in order to procure the necessary items. All essential items were located in Huambo, including hand tools, specialty tools, such as pipe threaders and vises, raw materials and resources for the production of drilling equipment and hand pumps, galvanized steel pipes for the drilling structure, square steel tubing for the augers, PVC pipes for the casing and pump, filter pack and sieve and concrete.

The site selected for the well location was in a small, rural community that had already experienced two previous failed borehole attempts. The first was 8 meters deep and drilling had been stopped abruptly when drillers struck rock. The second measured 10.5 meters deep and contained 1.5 meters of static water.

The second borehole location offered a ready-made learning and training site to demonstrate to locals how to set casting, complete a well and run in an access hand pump.

After training, the borehole was investigated for reasons why it was previously left incomplete. The removal of debris indicated that the reason for abandonment of the project was quicksand.

After purchasing some additional equipment, the team proceeded to push through the quicksand in an attempt to make contact with the next geological zone. New pipes were used to drive the primary pipe to the depth required to progress past the problematic quicksand formation. The team pressed on further, through sticky clay, but was encouraged when they reached large grained water-bearing sand. Clear water quickly and easily separated from the sand, giving renewed enthusiasm to the team that the drill would, in fact, be successful. Progress continued for two more meters before the casing and training to finish the well began. The primary water-bearing zone was encountered between 11.5 and 12 meters (between 37 and 39 feet) deep. The total depth of the completed borehole was 13.5 meters (about 44 feet). A filter pack of coarse grain sand was installed, and a 6 inch cement cap was poured on top to isolate the water-bearing zones from the surface.

The following day, the team installed an Access 1.2 hand pump. All in all, the project installation went perfectly.

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