RWSSHP Resource Manual # 3a - Hand Dug Well Construction - How to Use This Manual

Nov 4, 2026

RWSSHP Resource Manual #3a provides a practical construction reference for hand dug wells within the Rural Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Program (RWSSHP). It targets contractors (artisans and hand dug well technicians) responsible for building water points and training WaSHComs in operation, maintenance, and management. The manual outlines the overall HDW construction process, how to use technical detail sheets for step-by-step tasks, and includes guidance on preparation, planning, site selection overview, and work planning considerations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

How to Use This Manual

Preparation

Site Selection

Work Planning

Construction – Well Shaft

Construction – Well Intake

Construction – Headworks

Completion

Improving Traditional Wells

RWSSHP Resource Manual \# 3a Hand Dug Well Construction Manual Introduction This manual is part of a series of technical manuals prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources for the implementation of the Rural Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Program (RWSSHP) . The complete series is as follows: Manual \#1 – Contract Management and Supervision Manual Manual \#2 – Community Operation and Maintenance Manual Manual \#3 – Hand Dug Well and Spring Development Construction Manual Booklet \#4 – Training Notes This Manual is targeted at the Contractors, otherwise known as Artisans and Hand Dug Well Technicians. These are the people who will be contracted, on behalf of Communities, to construct water points (Hand Dug Wells and Spring Developments) in those communities, and train WaSHComs in Operation, Maintenance and Management. It is divided into three parts: 3a Hand Dug Well Construction 3b Spring Development Construction 3c Contract Management It is meant to be a reference Manual that Contractors can use and draw on during the construction process. It covers the main aspects of planning, design and technology options as well as construction processes for Hand Dug Wells and Spring Developments. It also gives some guidelines for contract management, including financial management, reporting and administration. Whilst every effort has been made to cover the important aspects of HDW and SD construction, it should be noted that this manual is by no means comprehensive, and Contractors are encouraged to refer to other similar documents as well. All of these manuals draw upon materials and experience from other of Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Programs – including those in Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania – as well as early experience in Ethiopia. It is expected and encouraged that these manuals be modified considerably over the first years of the Program as further experience is gained and local lessons are learned. This manual is intended for use within the Program only. Paul Tyndale-Biscoe [paultyndale@fhdesigns.com.au](paultyndale@fhdesigns.com.au) April 2007 Illustration from Engineering in Emergencies, 2nd Ed (March 2002) Table of Contents: | Part A – Hand Dug Wells | | Associated Technical Detail Sheet (TDS) | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Preparation | | | | 1 | Site Selection | TDS 1 | Site Selection | | 1 | Work Planning | | | | 2 | Site preparation | TDS 2
TDS 3
TDS 4
TDS 5 | Clearing & Leveling the Site
Site Planning & Setting Out
Headframe Details
Concrete & Mortar | | 2 | Equipment | TDS 6 | Tools and Equipment | | 3 | Materials | TDS 7
TDS 5 | Materials
Concrete & Mortar | | 3 | Safety | TDS 8 | Safety Equipment | | 5 | Construction – Well Shaft | | | | 5 | Technology Options | TDS 9
TDS 10
TDS 11 | Pre-cast Concrete Rings
In-situ Concrete Lining
Masonry Lining | | 5 | Construction & Excavation Techniques | TDS 12
TDS 13 | Excavation
Caissoning | | 8 | Digging in Rock | | | | 9 | Construction-Intake | | | | 9 | Technology Options | TDS 9 | Pre-cast Concrete Rings | | 10 | Construction & Excavation Techniques | TDS 13 | Caissoning | | 10 | De-watering | TDS 14 | De-Watering | | 11 | Finalising the Well Shaft | TDS 15
TDS 16 | Finalising the Well Shaft
Measuring Yield. | | 11 | Well Deepening | TDS 17 | Well Deepening | | 13 | Construction-Headworks | | | | 13 | Description | | | | 13 | Well Head | TDS 18 | Well Headwall | | 13 | Cover Slab | TDS 19 | Cover Slab | | 14 | Apron and Drainage | TDS 20 | Apron & Drainage | | 14 | Handpump | TDS 21 | Installing an Afridev Handpump | | 14 | Windlass | TDS 4 | Headframe Details | | 15 | Completion | | | | 15 | Disinfection and cleaning | TDS 22 | Disinfection & Cleaning | | 15 | Fencing and well protection | | | | 15 | Operation & Maintenance Training | | | | 16 | Extra Features | TDS 23 | Hand Dug Well Extra Features | | 16 | Handover of facilities | | | | 17 | Improving

FAQs

Who is this manual intended for?

It is targeted at contractors, also known as artisans and hand dug well technicians, who construct water points on behalf of communities and train WaSHComs in WaSH operation, maintenance, and management.

How should contractors use the manual during construction?

Use it as a reference throughout the construction process, first understanding the overall HDW workflow, then consulting individual Technical Detail Sheets for step-by-step instructions.

What does the manual cover in terms of the HDW construction process?

It describes key aspects of preparation and the main construction stages, including the well shaft, well intake, headworks, completion, and improving traditional wells, along with relevant guidance for construction planning.

Nov 4, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair