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…

UPGro Hidden Crisis fieldwork done in partnership with WaterAid country teams and with full support of government ministries in Ethiopia, Malawi and Uganda, who adopted the survey reports [C8]

Research conducted in Uganda revealed the high rate of pump corrosion to the poorly galvanized iron pipes used for borehole installation. This has enabled WaterAid to deliver this message to the key stakeholders that can effect change to reduce the…

UPGro Impact: responding to declining groundwater levels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [D5]

Addis Ababa relies on groundwater for more than 60% of its water supply. Water levels are declining significantly. Declining water levels is affecting access to water for some users. Rapid water level decline has led to some shallow community boreholes…

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…

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…

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…

Study shows boreholes are key to drought resilience in Ethiopia

BGS Press Release Installing more boreholes to tap underground water will improve rural Ethiopian communities’ resilience to drought, according to a new report. Research carried out by the British Geological Survey (BGS), the University of Addis Ababa and the Overseas…

Different perspectives on ways to make a living from groundwater, in Tanzania and Ethiopia

Lessons from the GroFutures Multi-stakeholder Workshops in the Great Ruaha Basin, Tanzania, and Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia by John Thompson, Imogen Bellwood-Howard, Gebrehaweria, Gebregziabher, Mohammad Shamsudduha, Richard Taylor, Devotha Kilave, Andrew Tarimo and         Japhet Kashaigili Identifying and…

Lord of the Rain: how radio can help African farmers combat drought

The Guardian news website is an excellent short film "Lord of the Rain" that highlights the challenges facing farmers in the remote Omo region of Ethiopia. UPGro is tackling these challenges head-on in Ethiopia, Burkino Faso and elsewhere across Africa.