Wellspring Africa's
Hand Powered Percussion Drill

Cost Comparisons Between Hand Dug and Drilled Wells


In the following examples we are using data collected in Liberia in 1986 and again in Nigeria in 1999.  The hand dug technique in this example is the simplest design possible. We are assuming a well that is being built in stable soil which does not require a casing for the drilling or scaffolding for the digging. We are also assuming low labor costs, $5-a-day for trained technicians and $2-a-day for general laborers. (The lower wage actually favors the hand dug method since it is more labor intensive.)

We will first list the basic costs for a single well and then list the costs for twelve wells, assuming that the tools will make twelve wells before needing replacement.

BASIC DRILLING/DIGGING TOOLS

PERCUSSION DRILL HAND DUG WELLS
Drill Bit 65.00 Pick 10.00
Bailer 65.00 Shovel 8.00
Pulley 12.00 Pulley 12.00
Rope 100' 35.00 Rope 75' 25.00
Shovel 8.00 Bucket 4.00
Fishing tools 15.00 Misc. fasteners, etc. 10.00
Misc. fasteners, etc. 10.00
Total $ 210.00 Total $ 69.00


LABOR FOR DRILLING/DIGGING 45-FOOT WELL

PERCUSSION DRILL   HAND DUG WELLS
         
Driller (4 day X $5) 20.00   Traditional contractor/  
6 Helpers (4 x $2) 48.00   Digger @ $2/foot 90.00
Total 68.00   Total 90.00


DRILLING/DIGGING 12 WELLS

PERCUSSION DRILL   HAND DUG WELLS  
       
Tools 210.00 Tools 69.00
Labor X 12 wells 816.00 Labor X 12 wells 1080.00
Total 1,026.00 Total 1,149.00
Cost per well 85.50 Cost per well 95.75

When it comes to finishing the well, there are many other savings to be found. In the following example, we will assume that, to provide for a long lasting and safe well, the hand dug well will have the minimum of protection in the form of a raised cement lid and cement rings to line the well at the water table only. The drilled well will have four-inch plastic PVC casing and a concrete platform.

MATERIALS FOR FINISHING ONE WELL

PERCUSSION DRILL   HAND DUG WELLS  
       
Hacksaw 10.00 Trowel 3.50
Trowel 3.50 Pliers 5.00
1 Bag Cement 7.50 Sheet metal form 15.00
45' PVC Casing(4") 28.00 7 bag Cement 52.50
Fittings & glue 5.00 Wire reinforcement 35.00
Labor: well screen 4.00 Labor: sand gathering 7.00
Labor: sand and clay 4.00    
Total 62.00 Total 118.00


LABOR FOR FINISHING ONE WELL

PERCUSSION DRILL   HAND DUG WELLS  
       
Driller 2 days 10.00 Technician 4.5 days 22.50
Helper 2 days 4.00 Helper 4.5 days 9.00
Total 14.00 Total 31.50


FINISHING 12 WELLS

PERCUSSION DRILL   HAND DUG WELLS  
       
Tools 13.50 Tools 23.50
Materials X 12 582.00 Materials X 12 1134.00
Labor X 12 wells 168.00 Labor X 12 wells 378.00
Total 763.50 Total 1535.62
Cost per well 56.62 Cost per well 127.96

If we add the totals for both digging and finishing the twelve wells, the grand total looks like this:

DRILLING AND FINISHING TWELVE WELLS

PERCUSSION DRILL   HAND DUG WELLS  
       
Drilling 1026.00 Digging 1149.00
Finishing 763.50 Finishing 1,535.50
Total 1,789.50 Total 2,684.50
Cost per well 149.13 Cost per well 223.71

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