Drilling for water and water purification can be a complicated and costly process. Be sure to check with your local university and government office about the process of drilling and codes, and about the requirements for clean water. Human/animal waste and landfill waste can lead to unclean water in your local area which can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can be fatal without proper medical care. Please follow local laws and guidelines. Remember, there is no substitute for relying on local streams and rain for clean water. Stay close to your traditional values for obtaining water and your relationship with water.
It has been shown that if you put clean water in clear plastic bottles and let them sit in the sun for 6-8 hours while you are away at work, the pathogens (disease) is killed and you can drink the water. If you have a local university, check in with the biologists there about this method of cleaning water, it can be a lot easier, and here is a link: Ultraviolet_Disinfection
Caution: Also, remember whenever you are digging to make sure there are no power lines or water lines below where you are digging. If you stay close to a city or in a city and you have electricity, it is likely that you have power lines below the ground. Check with your local utility company about safety and digging.
Caution: When working with water try to work closely with a plumber or a craftsperson that works on wells. Trying to work with water on your own is an onerous task, and it may violate your city codes. Work with a professional when you are able.
I found a book that will help you to some degree called Developing World Water by John Pickford. It may give an overview of some problems you might face. It is in supply at amazon.com.
Water.org
Centre_for_Affordable_Water_and_Sanitation
Charity:Water
Solar_Water_Purification
Everpure
Global_Water
International_Water_and_Sanitation_Center
Irrigation_Association
International_Water_Association
Water_Well_Tutorial
Lifewater_International
Noah_Water_Systems
Oxfam-Water_For_Survival
Pump_Aid
Safe_Water_Systems
Living_Water_International
WaterAid
Water_For_People
Water_Missions
Water_Without_Borders
Water_for_the_Nations
World_Water_Council
Developing world water is a hot political issue because American companies are making money by providing pure water. However, they are asking communities like yours too much money. The answer seems to be to make water a matter of public service, run by your local government, at a price you can afford. Don't let American or other companies bully you into accepting expensive water.
'Reverse osmosis' is a great research topic for community water purification. Local and US universities can be contacted for this information; See General_Electric_What_Is_Reverse_Osmosis. See also Osmosis_Reverse_Osmosis for some basic instructions on reverse osmosis water purification. Catholic Relief Services can be contacted for water purification. Look on the Google for 'biosand water filtration'. This form of water filtration is becoming popular and is easy to make with local materials. I heard on the BBC radio that if you fold a cloth over four times and let water permeate through it, that this purifies water to an extent that cholera is reduced by half. I also learned from the BBC that if you put water that carries cholera bacteria in clear plastic bottles and let the bottle sit in the sunlight for 6 hours to 2 days the sunlight will kill the bacteria. Both methods need further review, and you are recommended to boil water or follow other standard guidelines of eliminating cholera. Cholera causes diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and death; it is very serious.
Another route to take in finding water is called dowsing. See Dowsing
Search Google and the library for 'borehole' and 'standpipe' construction. See also Cottage Water Systems: an Out-of-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification and Privies by Max Burns (highly recommended and perfect for rural water needs). See the book Manual of Water Well Construction and Practices. See also Drilling for Water: A Practical Manual by Raymond Rowles (neither book comes from recommendation, both are from searches on water well construction at amazon.com. These books may or may not be the right book for you, but the titles seem to fit... a safe purchase if it is ordered through the library). I found a Nicaraguan design for irrigation that is low cost and very useful at El_Porvenir You can actually take a bicycle and use it to pump water into your garden and farm land, saving you endless journeys by foot to your local water source. For more on bicycle powered machines, see Mayapedal. Some smart hippie put together the idea of solar power to pump water. It is an incredible advancement and combination of technologies. See Sunmotor for more. I found this site at Amnesty International's website links, so I guess that is high recommendation. It sure seemed like a great idea. This may be the most expensive route, but it is proven by time to work and be effective: Aermotor_Windmills for pumping water via wind power. See if they will ship internationally or know of a similar dealer in your area.
I don't know much about well construction myself, but you need to be aware of the runoff water that is going into your well. Human and animal waste can pollute your well, so you don't want to dig your well below that runoff. Also, pesticides and herbicides can be a problem for the same reason. Well water has different properties according to the minerals it washes over (hard water), and some well water is not suitable for drinking. Your best bet with digging a well, if their isn't someone who has done it before or is a professional, is to contact one of the groups above and ask them to help you get started. This is an example of how to solve problems in a variety of ways using this web portal... once you have outlined the problem, know what you don't know and ask a professional listed on this web portal via email, and you will have made a great start to solving your problem. Also, work with members of your community, and follow directions from those who have done work in this field.
Ram pumps are widely used in the US for pumping water. Ram pumps require no electric pump... they pump water using the force of water itself. See RamPumps. See also Water_Powered_Water_Pumps (and see the links for other areas of interest) for more on water pumps. See also International_Water_Management_Institute for water resource information. I found a great ram pump site that has a lot of other appropriate technology info on it. Enjoy! Ram_Pumps
If you are on a rain slope or hill, you can use earth berms (small mounds that channel the flow of water to the aquifer) to direct water to the aquifer/bedrock below. This water runoff collects below the Earth's surface in the aquifer and can be collected at the bottom of the rain slope in a cistern. The following book may (I'm not absolutely sure) describe rain slope rainwater collection on hills; Rainwater Harvesting: the Collection of Rainfall and Runoff in Rural Areas by Arnold Pacey. This method of collecting water is great in hilly areas. See Tank_Town for a book on rooftop rainwater collection, also a useful way to collect water.
Also useful is The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing by Black and Decker and Smart Guide Plumbing: Step-by-Step Projects by Creative Homeowner. Both come recommended and are basic beginner guides. This might give you a leg up if you are starting work in plumbing, or repairs in your home. If you are doing repairs in your home always try to work with a certified plumber, such as friend who is a plumber.
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