Abstract
Water access remains a challenge in rural areas of low-income countries. Manual drilling technologies have the potential to enhance water access by providing a low cost drinking water alternative for communities in low and middle income countries. This paper provides an overview of the main successes and challenges experienced by manual boreholes in the last two decades. A review of the existing methods is provided, discussing their advantages and disadvantages and comparing their potential against alternatives such as excavated wells and mechanized boreholes. Manual boreholes are found to be a competitive solution in relatively soft rocks, such as unconsolidated sediments and weathered materials, as well as and in hydrogeological settings characterized by moderately shallow water tables. Ensuring professional workmanship, the development of regulatory frameworks, protection against groundwater pollution and standards for quality assurance rank among the main challenges for the future.
Highlights
The United Nations recognize access to drinking water and sanitation both as human rights and as prerequisites for the fulfilment of several other human rights [1]
Water supplies must be physically accessible, sufficient in quantity, safe in terms of quality, available when needed, acceptable from the organoleptic standpoint, and affordable for everyone. While this ideal has been implemented in many industrialized countries, universal water access is yet to be achieved in many parts of the world, with rural areas significantly lagging behind [2]
Since aquifers provide a reliable source of drinking water for communities across the world, groundwater has its own share of appropriate technologies
Summary
The United Nations recognize access to drinking water and sanitation both as human rights and as prerequisites for the fulfilment of several other human rights [1]. Water supplies must be physically accessible, sufficient in quantity, safe in terms of quality, available when needed, acceptable from the organoleptic standpoint, and affordable for everyone While this ideal has been implemented in many industrialized countries, universal water access is yet to be achieved in many parts of the world, with rural areas significantly lagging behind [2]. Since aquifers provide a reliable source of drinking water for communities across the world, groundwater has its own share of appropriate technologies. The focus shifts to a comparison between manual drilling and other groundwater access methods (i.e., excavated wells and mechanized boreholes). The successes and challenges faced by the manual drilling sector are appraised in the context of the need to achieve universal water access. A borehole drilled by manual means, replicating the work of a mechanical rig by hand.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
