From emergency to development or vice versa? Key lessons from the innovation of a well drilling method

Despite considerable differences between the relief setting and the developmental setting, it was concluded by PRACTICA during the S(P)EEDKITS project that requirements of hardware used in both settings have a significant overlap. Robustness, independence of external supplies and cost effectiveness are just a few of them. The product development aimed to improve hardware for relief organisations to access groundwater cost effectively with a proven method from the developmental sector. By professionalizing the hardware of a manual drilling technique called Rotary Jetting the relief organisations are now able to drill wells independently of third parties up to 30 meters in unconsolidated formations with limited skills needed and durable equipment. By adding the requirement in the product development that all parts should be locally maintainable, replaceable or repairable, it was attempted to make the kit highly applicable to be transferred to the private sector or local organizations when emergency organizations phase-out.