Water

Oxfam works to ensure people affected by humanitarian emergencies have access to safe water in sufficient quantity to meet basic needs. This can include drilling boreholes, solar pumping, rainwater harvesting, water treatment, water distribution and engagement with end users so that they have safe water at the point of consumption. Oxfam works in collaboration with local partners including utilities, water ministries and state appointed service providers to sustainably manage water resources and services and undertake climate-resilient interventions to achieve water security.

Technical Brief
Water Quality Analysis In Emergency Situations

The purpose of water quality analysis  Pathogens such as bacteria, virus’, ova and cysts, can be ingested through drinking water. Water which looks clear…

Minimum Requirements
Water

Oxfam emergency water programmes should select the most appropriate approaches to ensure access to and use of safe, sufficient water to affected communities for…

Technical Brief
Water Distribution Networks

The installation of a water distribution system is often a priority in emergency responses where people have been displaced. Distribution through pipes and tapstands…

Technical Brief
Guidelines For Bulk Water Treatment

Introduction Where large groups of people are displaced either by conflict or by natural disaster and they are likely to stay in a location…

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Solar Pumping for Water Supply

Solar power for pumping groundwater has a vast potential for improving the sustainability of water supply schemes. However experience also shows that a lack…

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Guidelines on Well Design in Emergencies

For design of boreholes / wells in emergencies. Gives details of:

Technical Brief
Water Trucking in Drought Emergencies

Introduction Emergency water trucking (EWT) is typically a short-term, life-saving intervention that is used to cover interruptions in water service or access to sufficient…

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Introduction to Community-Based Water Resource Management

This learning companion aims to support Oxfam staff to implement community-based water resource management (CBWRM). CBWRM is most appropriate for field programmes in dryland…

Technical Brief
Chlorination in Emergencies

Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant that kills most microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Pure chlorine is a gas and is extremely hazardous, however,…

Technical Brief
TBN27 – Prepaid Communal Water Dispensers

Oxfam’s experience is detailed in our report “Performance review of water ATMs and Smart Water devices in Oxfam Programmes“.

Technical Brief
Hygiene Promotion for Household Water Treatment in Emergencies

Introduction It is now well accepted that despite source water being safe, water can be contaminated during transportation and storage and the hygienic handling…

Technical Brief
Pipeline Extension from Wellhead to Hand Pumps

Inspiration Where the clean water scarcity is acute and sweet water aquifer is not readily available right in the villages or nearby, but there…

Technical Brief
Solar Powered Borehole Pumps

Introduction Electricity generated by solar “photovoltaic” (PV) modules has been used for powering pumps for almost half a century, but in the past scaling…

Technical Brief
Spring Protection

Springs  Springs occur where water from an underground aquifer flows out of the ground to the surface. The spring can occur where the water…

Technical Brief
Rain Water Harvesting Guidelines

Rainwater Harvesting for Emergency Water Supply Introduction Harvesting rainwater as sole or as alternative source of water supply both for domestic and agricultural use…

Technical Brief
Repairing, cleaning and disinfecting hand dug wells

Hand dug wells  Hand dug wells can come in many forms, from simple holes in the ground with limited protection, to covered wells with…

Technical Brief
Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage

Historically, safe water interventions have focussed on providing improved water sources.  However, there is now growing consensus among the WatSan community that water can…

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A Trainer’s Manual for Community Managed Water Supplies in Kenya
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Instruction Manual for Water Pumping Equipment

This equipment is part of several packages devised by the Oxfam Public Health Engineering Teamto help provide a reliable water supply for populations affected…

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Instruction Manual for Hand Dug Well Equipment

The following manual covers the well auger survey, well digging, dewatering and desludging kits. These are available from the Supply Centre.

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Performance Review of Water ATMs and Smart Water Devices in Oxfam Programmes
Technical Brief
Desalination

Background  Salinity is becoming an increasingly common problem within Oxfam programmes.  Some groundwater is naturally brackish.  However  climate variability and increased frequency of drought…

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Water Dispensers Innovation Report

Improving access to water in refugee settlements through automated dispensers 1. Problem/Gap being Addressed: Despite major investment in water infrastructure and capacity building of…

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Lamella Clarifier Innovation Report

Development and Trialling a lamella clarifier kit for bulk water treatment. 1. Problem/Gap being Addressed: The method of surface water treatment during a first…

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Desalination in Gaza Innovation Report

Trialling Capacitive Deionisation (CDI) as an improved desalination technology. 1. Problem/Gap being Addressed: 97% of groundwater in the Gaza Strip is contaminated by salinity…

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Global Solar Water Initiative

Supporting the introduction and scaling up of quality solar water pumping and other solar energy solutions in the WASH sector. Link to website:

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Oxfam Strategy on Household Water Filters in Emergencies

Due to the enormous quantity of different household water filters on the market or in development this brief paper is to clarify Oxfam’s position…

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Lifesaver Cube – Oxfam’s Experience in South Sudan

The Lifesaver Cube (‘the Cube’) is a household water filter developed in collaboration with Oxfam. Dirty water is stored inside the Cube, which resembles…

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A Road Map for Small Scale Desalination

An overview of existing and emerging technology solutions for cost-efficient and low-energy desalination in South and Southeast Asia Asia is one of the hardest…