WJ continues to lead in sustainable water management by supporting initiatives that focus on practical groundwater solutions. Through the Developing Groundwater course, WJ shares its expertise in groundwater construction and dewatering techniques, helping students and humanitarian workers gain essential skills to tackle water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa.
WJ Teams Up with Cranfield University for Developing Groundwater Course
In 2022, WJ collaborated with the British Drilling Association, RedR UK, and other industry partners to create the ‘Developing Groundwater’ course at Cranfield University, aimed at enhancing awareness and engineering skills to address economic water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa. This region struggles with deteriorating water infrastructure despite having water sources, and the initiative seeks to provide long-term security by constructing quality water wells and boreholes, ensuring sustainable and effective groundwater development solutions.
Practical Groundwater Training for Humanitarian Impact
The course at Cranfield University is aimed at development and humanitarian workers as well as students involved in groundwater development and humanitarian response programmes. Participants from Médecins Sans Frontières, Help (Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe), and the Container Based Sanitation Alliance are involved. They undertake vast humanitarian tasks in countries such as Zambia, Uganda, Mali, and South Sudan. The course combines classroom sessions on topics such as water well design, which implements on-site practical demonstrations that include drilling and well installation by WJ’s experienced team, as well as groundwater quality sampling and testing and geophysics. Through these hands-on exercises, participants gain real-world experience in groundwater management, ensuring that projects in remote or underserved regions are executed safely and efficiently.
Already in its 25th year, the course is organised by RedR UK, Groundwater Relief, Cranfield University, and the BDA with plant, equipment, and expertise provided by WJ, Peter Dumble Hydrogeology, Richard Carter and Associates Ltd, Dando, Palintest, In-Situ, Geomatrix, and Boode. The course provides students with practical skills and theory to apply to complex hydrogeology tasks, as well as serving as an introduction to water poverty in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. WJ’s involvement in the Developing Groundwater course highlights our commitment to sharing expertise and advancing sustainable groundwater practices worldwide. Learn more about WJ’s groundwater services here.
By supporting the Developing Groundwater course at Cranfield University in Bedford, WJ reinforces its commitment to sustainable water management. Learn more about WJ’s groundwater and dewatering services and explore opportunities to collaborate on projects that make a real difference in sub-Saharan Africa.
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