Hydrogeologists without Borders

What, why and how.

Oklahoma International Water Conference

University of Oklahoma (October, 2011) Dave Bethune1, Cathy Ryan1, and John Cherry2

1Geoscience, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Why, What, and How

Note: We are looking for feedback and input in early stages of this

initiative

HWB Problem statement: Major efforts to provide improved water supply in developing countries are

thwarted and often fail because of the inability to find and develop

groundwater resources - often due to the lack of hydrogeological expertise

What is hydrogeological expertise?

Geological mapping

Drilling & instrumentation

Field measurements &

gw sampling

Lab analyses & interpretation

Hydrogeological expertise is the integrated knowledge of geology,

groundwater flow, natural groundwater chemistry and

contamination towards the sustainable extraction of good quality

groundwater resources within the constraints of the hydrologic cycle

How does water fit into ‘International Development’?

‘Watsan, or WASH ‘

How does hydrogeology fit into the ‘Water and Sanitation’ Sector?

www.who.int

Hydrogeology fits into most, if not all, of these core activities…..

What are the primary aid activities in the WASH sector?

• Drilling wells • Building pit privies • Water treatment • Water distribution • Building schools • Medical facilities • hydrogeology?

Groundwater is increasingly important in the developing world

• gw provides ~50% of potable water supplies world-wide (UNESCO, 2003)

• Surge of gw used over the past 50 years (food demands, turbine pump, cheap energy, surface water supplies fully allocated)

• Many countries with distinct dry seasons, and or arid/semi arid countries (i.e. much of the developing world) are highly gw dependent

• Half the world’s mega-cities (and many large cities) rely solely or significantly on gw (UNESCO, 2006)

Q: How does hydrogeology fit into the WASH sector activities?

Water well witching, northern Nicaragua (photo D. Bethune)

Ten step example of how hydrogeology might fit into a (substantive) water well

drilling project

Step 1: Desktop study: Aerial photography/Google Earth, regional geology info, existing water well records (since little subsurface info typically available)

Step 2: Field visit: Drive or walk around and assess terrain, soil, and geological factors to guide the water search (look for geologic outcrops, evidence of discharge (e.g. springs, seeps, phreatophytes)).

Step 3: Identify and find appropriate test drilling locations (including both geographic location and location, depth, and design of screen), preliminary contaminant source assessment.

Step 4: Identify and find the simplest, cheapest, most appropriate technology for creating wells in that particular geologic environment

Step 5: Find, cost, and mobilize appropriate drilling technology for the geologic conditions

Step 6: Drill test well(s), sample drill cuttings/cores to understand subsurface. Assess test well(s), sample water quality

Step 7: Iterative drilling of test wells, strategically selecting subsequent locations using on previous well(s) information to understand hydrogeology

Step 8: Accumulate sufficient site specific information from consecutive boreholes to understand the subsurface physically and geochemically.

Step 9: Assess contaminant sources in context of hydrogeologically appropriate well locations

Wells and latrines in close proximity (photos D. Bethune)

Step 10: Drill appropriately designed, developed, and installed water supply wells

So, hydrogeology can be a complex and multi-stage process….. Q: Is hydrogeology fitting into the WASH sector activities appropriately? Q: Could a hydrogeology NGO enable the larger WASH sector through dialogue and collaboration?

Draft Mandate

HWB is primarily meant to enable the larger water,

sanitation and hygiene sector through dialogue and

collaboration.

Draft Mission

To integrate hydrogeology into aid efforts so that groundwater supplies are effectively found, developed, and protected, for

poor and disadvantaged people worldwide.

Draft Goal

To foster water resource self-sufficiency for poor and disadvantaged people

worldwide.

Draft Objectives

1. Provide hydrogeologic advice and guidance to field-based aid efforts,

2. Facilitate hydrogeologic education and training,

3. Advancement and awareness of appropriate groundwater technology.

hydrogeologistswithoutborders.org

Comments and thoughts welcome

cryan@ucalgary.ca