New Paper: Contribution of physical factors to handpump borehole functionality in Africa

The latest from the Hidden Crisis project: Highlights Functionality classifications were used to assess the role of physical factors on handpump borehole (HPB) performance. Hydrogeology, borehole configuration and handpump (HP) components were examined by dismantling 145 HPBs. Handpump components are…

New paper: Drinking water quality from rural handpump-boreholes in Africa

Open Access here: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab8031 Groundwater provides a vital source of drinking water for rural communities in many parts of Africa, particularly in the dry season when there are few safe alternative sources. This paper summarises results from a study (n…

Webinaire, 16 Juin | Une crise cachée ? Résultats de la recherche sur les défaillances des forages en Éthiopie, au Malawi et en Ouganda

Rejoignez-nous pour le prochain webinaire du RWSN et du programme UPGro: Webinaire, 16 Juin | Une crise cachée ? Résultats de la recherche sur les défaillances des forages en Éthiopie, au Malawi et en Ouganda La mauvaise fonctionnalité des points…

The Conversation: Why drought programmes in Ethiopia should support communal access to groundwater

by Donald John MacAllister, International Development Hydrogeologist, British Geological Survey; Alan MacDonald Professor, British Geological Survey; Seifu Kebede Gurmessam Professor of Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UPGro Hidden Crisis) re-posted from The Conversation Like many countries in east Africa, Ethiopia is highly…

Hand-pumps for deeper groundwater key to climate resilience for rural communities

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) -  new study has revealed that use of hand-pumped boreholes to access deeper groundwater is the most resilient way of adapting to droughts caused by climate change for rural communities in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.

Meet Joseph Okullo, a groundwater research scientist in the making

Interview and photos by Isaiah Esipisu With a Masters degree in geology from Makerere University, Joseph Okullo landed a consultancy job, to assist UPGro team in Uganda as a physical scientist. Since then, his star has been glowing brighter and…

Groundwater Science meets Policy at AfWA Congress

Day 2 of the AfWA Congress in Kampala, and the UPGro-convened stream of groundwater sessions got underway. First up was  session focusing on the AMCOW Pan-African Groundwater Program (APAGroP), with an opening by AMCOW Executive Secretary, Dr Canisius Kanangire, followed by a panel, featuring Tim Sumner from DFID

Hidden Crisis project presentation in the China Africa water Forum Series No. 7, at Windhoek, Namibia

By Dessie Nedaw 8 August 2019 The China Africa Water Forum is a platform for all professionals within the fields of water science and technology in Africa and China. The China Africa Water Association also referred to as CAWA, is…

Technical brief now available – Project approach for defining and assessing rural water supply functionality and levels of performance

The Hidden Crisis project team have now published a Technical Brief on the methods developed and used by the project to assess rural water supply functionality and levels of performance – now available from here. This technical brief is aimed…

Rural water supply: a political economy analysis

The Hidden Crisis project team examined the political economy of rural water supply (RWS) in Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi during 2017 and 2018. These are based on literature and interviews with government staff and water sector stakeholders to unpick systemic…