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Clean drinking water is a major problem in developing countries. Water-borne diseases are rampant in economically depressed rural areas because clean running water (typically provided by the municipalities), is simply not available. The only alternative is to install hand pumps or deep wells (drilled wells) to draw clean water from the ground. The depth of the potable water table varies from 20 to 600 feet (~ 6 to 180 meter) depending on the region and local topography. Hand pumps are normally installed for obtaining water at the maximum depth of 130 feet (~ 40 meters.) Over 130 feet deep wells (drilled wells) are installed with pumps which can go deeper than 3,000 feet (910 m).
Water Hand Pump
Until recent centuries, all artificial wells were pumpless dug wells which were excavated with diameters large enough to accommodate men with shovels digging down to below the water table. Such wells were at times lined with stones or bricks; extending this lining into a wall around the well to reduce both contamination and injuries by falling into the well. Modern dug wells are hand pumped. While the cost of drilling is directly proportional to the depth where water can be pumped from, the average cost of installing a hand pump, along with maintenance of the hand pump for 5 years is $200.
Deep Well (Drilled Wells)
Deep Wells (Drilled wells) can get water from a much deeper level by mechanical drilling. Drilled wells with electric pumps are currently used throughout the world, typically in rural or sparsely populated areas. Most shallow well drilling machines are mounted on large trucks, trailers, or tracked vehicle carriages. Water wells typically range from 20 to 600 feet (180 m), but in some areas can go deeper than 3,000 feet (910 m). Deep wells over 150 feet (45 meters) with purification plant costs approx. $30,000 and up. Currently, Hidaya is working to provide a deep well in the Shahdad Kot district. For more information click here Qambar-Shahdad Kot Water Project.
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