1. Shallow Wells
A cost effective community-based solution to clean water
Nkhotakota, Malawi
Kirk Longstein, PCV
2009

2. • The villages located along the Dwambazi forest boundary have an
advantage to vast customary lands for agriculture use, fresh fish
daily from the lake and a protected forested area to supply fuel
wood. Unfortunately, the inconvenient topography contributes a
major inhibiting factor to access clean water. A combination of
poor agriculture practices and latrine sanitation has contributed
to a staggering number of people susceptible to and reporting
waterborne illness. More frequently, water is drawn from several
small perennial streams flowing along the watershed close to
homestead areas. In addition to perennial streams, open wells
have been dug in wetlands and low lying areas acting as
collection points.

3. Partnerships in development
An important role for positive solutions
• Collaboration with Malawian health surveying assistants (HSA) was the key component
to community entry and the initiation of several participatory meeting with the acting
village health committees.
• The aim of our initial meetings were to hear the ideas across community
demographics.
– The group discussions represented ideas from different age groups, gender groups, and
covering several homestead areas and estates within the catchment’s area.
– The communities committed to working together with partner organizations and solving their
complaints for clean water .
• There were three discussed solutions to the areas’ water problems.
– Drilled boreholes
– Water harvesting tanks
– Protected shallow wells
• The proposed cost effective way forward as expressed by community members were
the development of three protected shallow wells, in addition to an improved
waterborne diseases education curriculum at the primary school.
• These proposed solutions were aimed to be in addition to the continued sanitation
awareness campaign and improved latrine construction by other acting NGO partners.
• The project aimed to be sustainable by facilitating the organizational structure of the
committee, the empowerment roles of community members and continued civic
education of youth.

4. Creating a plan and working forward
• The water problems discussed by
the committee have related to
distance and quality. The
protected shallow wells were
planned to address these issues.
• Creating work plans and time
tables helped our group to stay on
task. We met twice a month at the
same time and place.
• By not hiring an outside contractor
and enable local community
members to perform the work, an
element of future ownership and
management of the water point
has been created.

5. Starting the work
• The wells constructed were a masonry style using
the local materials provided by the community; fired
bricks, river sand and quarry stone
• Day 1: Start with the digging of the well. The initial
survey to find an appropriate site takes into
consideration vegetative hydrology, achieving a well
dept, free of run off contaminates and an
appropriate distance to homestead area .
– The well depth goal was 4-6 meters and starting
masonry construction at 1-2 meters below the water
level in the dry season. We reached 4.5m.
– Diameter of the well dug depends on soil conditions
that you are working with. Our well diameters were 1
meter. With two sites, we worked with Clay/Sand soils
and had little problems with erosion. 1 site held
silt/sand soils which made our well diameter larger
(1.5m)
Challenges and solutions
Digging below the water table.
using the pump that will be mounted at the end would be an
ideal solution but slows the work. If money can be budgeted a
generated water pump makes your work easier.

6. Masonry Construction
• Day 2: Once the desired well dept is achieved, a sediment
sump was dug in the middle and filled with 2-4” quarry stone.
The sump is 2’ deep and once filled with smaller quarry the
entire bottom of the well is lined with larger stone. A flat
surface is created with the larger stones and will act as a
base for the first brick work.
• The brick is laid in an overlapping star formation starting 1’-
1.5’ from the side wall of the well.
• Cement was mixed at a ratio of 1-4 (cement-sand) to ensure
a structurally secure base at the point were water pressure
will be greatest and entering the well. Quarry/cement
mixtures were laid along the sides to also add to a structural
base.
Challenges and Solutions
Water moves fast while you work
• Ensure that your builders have a clear idea of the brick style
that will be laid.
Cement curing under water
• this is not a problem but the builder needs to be sure that
the cement is not drifting from its desired location.
• **cement needs to stay out of the middle of the well, this will
be the entry point of water.

7. Finishing cement Work
• At ground level we created a floor for drainage and
to prevent future water damage. The soils that we
were working with were highly erosive. Under the
cement floor we made sure to provide proper
drainage with crushed quarry and sand.
• At this point we also made the cement cover which
holds the mounted Malda pump and acts as a
preventive cover from sediments and debris.
Challenges and Solutions
A solid finish
• Ensuring a level finish is hard with local materials.
Make sure to use a level to create the final drainage
pitch desired.
• Make sure the team continues to pour water of the
final cement work to ensure a strong finishing job.

8. Setting the Pump
• The pump chosen was a hand powered Malda
pump.
• We wanted to find a pump solution that would be
easy for the community to use.
– Adjusting the pipe in the future if water table
shifts
– Replacing parts from aging wear and tear.
• Our pump options that we looked at were Afridev
and Malda. In the end Malda was chosen because
of easy assembly and plastic pieces, making
modifications easier.
MALDA Direct Action Hand Pump
http://www.meera-ceiko.com/malda.htm#

9. Clean Water
• In the end clean water was achieved through the continued dedication of the
community members and local host country extension workers. Shallow wells
are labor intensive but are a cost effective and appropriate infrastructure for
rural areas struggling with clean water.

10. Item
Unit
Price
(MK)
Number
of items
Value of
Community
"In Kind"
Contribution
(MK)
Paid by
Community
(MK)
Paid by
SPA (MK)
Paid by
Third
Party
(MK)
Total Cost in
MK
Total Cost in
USD
Equivalent
Cement 2,700 12 32,400
32,400.00
$228.17
Malda Hand Pump
58,000 1
58,000
58,000.00
$408.45
Mesh wire
17,000 1
17,000
17,000.00
$119.72
Solvent cement
400 1
400
400.00
$2.82
Quarry stone
2,000 2,000
2,000.00
$14.08
Fired Bricks
8,000 8,000
8,000.00
$56.34
Sand
1,000 1,000
1,000.00
$7.04
Water for mixing cement
2,500 2,500
2,500.00
$17.61
Transport
4,000 4,000
4,000.00
$28.17
Day Labor ( 3 Persons / 5 Days)
13,500 13,500
13,500.00
$95.07
Contractor oversight (NGO
Partner) 5,000 5,000
5,000.00
$35.21
Future management fund ( will be
saved for future repairs) 3,000.00
3,000.00
$21.13
Total 39,000 107,800 146,800.00 $1,033.80
Shallow Well Budget: Prices reflect Nkhotatkota, Malawi
Market