A WASHTech literature review of existing frameworks for technology assessment reveals that there is a gap for a WASH technology assessment tool and a WASH technology uptake tool. The authors of the review, which supports the development of WASHTech’s Technology Applicability Framework (TAF), conclude that a computer tool based on an algorithm is not appropriate because it is too rigid. Choosing a manageable number of appropriate indicators is key for assessing new technologies.
Posted in Uncategorized
The WASHTech project has published a literature review [1] focusing on 14 technologies used in Africa in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector.
Descriptions for each technology include a selection of interesting case studies, and an explanation as to whether the technology meets technical, financial, social and institutional success criteria.
Only two technologies met all four success criteria: hand dug wells and the India Mark II pump, and the latter only with the caveat that there was a functional maintenance system.
The least successful technology was the Playpump. Pending further research, jerry cans and the gulper were only found to meet one success criteria (technical success). Except for bio-additives to pit latrines and Playpumps, all other technologies were technically successful. The other success criteria were met by roughly half of the technologies.
Core issues that WASHTech plans to take up further include the appeal of inappropriate technologies like Playpumps and Lifestraws to naive donors, and ways to get government approval for low-cost, locally managed technologies like rope pumps, biosand filters, constructed rainwater harvesting jars, water jetting and tippy taps.
[1] Parker, A. et al., 2011. Africa wide water, sanitation and hygiene technology review. (WASHTech Deliverable 2.1). The Hague: WASHTech c/o IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and Cranfield: Cranfield University. 93 p. : 1 box, 9 fig., 1 tab. Includes references.
Available at: http://wp.me/a1szDW-1o
The aim of the WASHTech project (2011-2013) is to introduce a robust Technology Assessment Framework (TAF), with local partners in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda, that will assess the potential of new innovative WASH technologies. WASHTech is co-funded under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission’s Africa research programme. To learn more go to washtechafrica.wordpress.com
Posted in Africa, drilled wells, Ecosan, Filtration, hand dug wells, Hand pumps, Latrines, Rope pumps, Water storage
Tagged bio-additives to pit latrines, bio-sand filters, Burkina Faso, constructed rainwater harvesting jars, Cranfield University, Ghana, India Mark II pumps, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, jerry cans, LifeStraw, Playpumps, source_publish, Uganda, urine diverting dry toilets, ventilated improved pit latrines, water jetting
The University of South Florida’s (USF) Patel School of Global Sustainability through its Center for Global Solutions launched the first Patel Grand Challenge at the International Water Association’s Development Congress in Malaysia on 21 November 2011. The challenge invites inventors in developing nations to create a low-cost and easy-to-use water purification device that could save millions from the perils of contaminated drinking water.
The challenge was issued by Dr. Kiran C. Patel during the congress’ opening ceremony to over 600 delegates from around the globe. (To access more details, conference photos, and press coverage go here)
The challenge welcomes pre-proposal submissions through March 2012. Five applicants will be shortlisted and awarded up to US$ 8,000. The five finalists will be invited to prepare full proposals that will be reviewed by an international panel of experts at a major event. The winning proposal will receive up to US$ 100,000.
More on the Patel Grand Challenge and the Patel School of Global Sustainability can be found at www.psgs.usf.edu
Full details of the 2011 Patel Grand Challenge will be made available on 15 December 2011 at:
www.psgs.usf.edu/patel-center/section/patel-grand-challenge1
A team of engineering students from Brigham Young University (BYU) has developed a human-powered drill that can reach a depth of up to 75 metres at 10% to 20% the cost of a traditional motorized well rig. A prototype of the “Village Drill” cost around US$ 4,000 (excluding labour) to make in the USA.
The BYU students created the drill for a project in Tanzania run by WHOLives.org, a nonprofit based in South Jordan, Utah. The project is also co-sponsored by the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology.
The drill can be operated by four people. Three spin the wheel that turns the drill bit (cutting tool), and the fourth lifts the bit up and down when necessary to punch through tough spots. A water pump system removes the dirt from the 15 cm-wide hole.
In May 2011, a drilling team was able to construct a 45 m well with the patented “Village Drill” in 3 days in Magugu, Tanzania.
Related news: WASH technology information packages : for UNICEF WASH programme and supply personnel, E-Source, 24 Aug 2010
Related web sites:
Source: BYU, 14 Jul 2011
Poor residents in Indonesian cities of Malang (East Java) and Makassar (South Sulawesi) will soon be using their mobile phones to report problems with their water and sanitation services like poor water quality or quantity, well failures, failure of tanker water supplies, and costs for tanker water. This will enable water providers to learn about and quickly respond to customer complaints.
The Pacific Institute has launched the 3-year WASH SMS Project (September 2010 – September 2013) through a three-year pilot funded by USAID Development Grants Program (DGP). The Institute is working with Indonesian partner PATTIRO (experience in Indonesia focused on improving public services, and strengthening government capacity), and technology partner Nexleaf (a leader in mobile phone use to collect environmental data).
Read more about the project at:
Related news: India, New Delhi: using Facebook and SMS to keep the city clean, E-Source, 23 May 2011
Scientists from the University of California have been using small variations in the Earth’s gravity to identify trouble spots around the globe where people are making unsustainable demands on groundwater, one of the planet’s main sources of fresh water.
They found problems in places as disparate as North Africa, northern India, northeastern China and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley in California.
University of California’s Center for Hydrologic Modeling has developed Grace, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, that uses twin satellites to produce precise data on gravitational variations. The results are “redefining the field of hydrology”. Grace detects changes in ice, snow and water storage, surface water, soil moisture and groundwater.
Making such data available may increase sensitivities
in arid regions where groundwater basins are often shared by unfriendly neighbors — India and Pakistan, Tunisia and Libya or Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian territories — that are prone to suspecting one another of excessive use of this shared resource.
Grace can only supply reliable data for very large aquifers.
In northern India, the use of data from Grace in a study on aquifer depletion has led to some resistance.
“When in a place like India you say, ‘We’re doing something that is unsustainable and needs to change,’ well, people resist change. Change is expensive.”
Source: Felicity Barringer, New York Times, 30 May 2011
A reusable self-decontaminating sanitary napkin, a children’s latrine training mat and a latrine using urine to flush instead of water are among 26 sanitation technology projects that have been awarded Gates Foundation grants. The topics of the wining projects range from hygiene, to household latrines, ecological sanitation, and wastewater/sludge treatment and reuse for fertiliser and energy.
On 28 April 2011, the Gates Foundation announced that 88 new global health projects received grants, each worth US$ 100,000, in the 6th round of the Grand Challenges Explorations initiative. Out of these 88 projects, there were 26 winners in the category “Create the Next Generation of Sanitation Technologies”. See the full list of 26 sanitation awards. Projects with demonstrated success in their initial phase of research have the opportunity to receive Phase II funding of up to US$ 1 million.
There is another opportunity to submit proposals for sanitation technology grants in round 7 of the Grand Challenges Explorations (deadline 19 May 2011).
