Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.

If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

Abstract. Globally, 1.8 billion people use an unimproved source of drinking water with no protection against contamination from feces. Improved sanitation from safe water and good hygiene could prevent around 842,000 deaths each year. This work addresses the sixth U.N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which will help drive progress across many other SDGs: ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, also known as WASH (water access, sanitation, and hygiene). WASH programming specifically creates access to safe water for drinking, and that is free from chemical and biological pollutants, sanitation which includes access to a toilet (latrine) that safely separates human excreta from humans, and hygiene or a focus on public health and the transmission of fecal-oral diseases. In developing countries, water access is not always available. This research seeks to improve access to the water component of WASH programing. In many locations around the world, people use unsafe water sources and lack sufficient access of water for both drinking and domestic purposes. Particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, women and children walk great distances to obtain access to water. People must have equitable and affordable access to safe and sufficient water that is palatable and in sufficient quantity for both drinking and domestic purposes before any other long-term economic development or social improvement can occur. This research seeks to increase access to subsurface water by improving the driving capabilities of the Well-Driver PUP (Purdue Utility Project) vehicle. Worldwide, there are many locations where the water table depth is within the 10-20 meters range. These locations include Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, South America, northern India, Asia, and parts of the Asia Pacific Islands. These locations are places where the Well-Driver PUP could potentially be utilized, if sufficient depth can be demonstrated on a repeatable basis. Increasing the vehicle‘s achievable depth capability will increase the number of locations throughout the world that the vehicle could be used to access ground water for those with limited to no current water access. This unique vehicle can improve safe water access in developing countries for drinking and domestic purposes and play a key role in enhanced WASH programing. This paper will thoroughly discuss the engineering solutions to improve the driving depth of the vehicle.