Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Open Access Master's Report

Degree Name

Master of Science in Geology (MS)

Administrative Home Department

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Advisor 1

John S. Gierke

Advisor 2

Kari Henquinet

Committee Member 1

David Watkins

Abstract

For many rural communities in Senegal, water is an essential life-giving need received only through a network of hand dug wells. Increasing rainfall variability in the Sahel has driven greater water insecurity for those communities that rely on rain-irrigated systems for agriculture. This study investigates the retrieval, purposes, and quantities of seasonal water usage on a small domestic scale, as well as an analysis of perceived water availability in the wells during the rainy season. Additionally, using a combination of interview data and pumping test data obtained from the village wells, water usage and estimated daily needs are calculated and compared to potential well productivity. The analyses of the community water needs from the surveys and capabilities of the wells to produce water confirm that the wells not only provide the current needs but improved pumping and/or well configurations could provide approximately 10 times the current usage.

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