History of Wells in Rashda Village …
217
These new wells became deeper as shown in the actual depth of wells. They are
categorized as local wells in the village are called replacement wells that were drilled
by the Ministry of Irrigation to replace the dried-up wells. They are supervised by
the Ministry of Irrigation. Thus, their discharge level is under the control of the
government, in contrast to the surface springs or investment wells.
6 Conclusions
Until the first half of the twentieth century, the villagers’ lives depended on the water
accessibility that was limited and unstable. In a sense, the life of those days was one
determined by the water.
The drastic change of the human relationship with groundwater occurred with the
development of modern technology since the late 1950s. The vertical and horizontal
exploitations of the groundwater were enabled by the deep-well drilling machines
and the development of pumping technology. The technology of water discharge
enabled the discharge of a large amount of groundwater and the ability to overcome
water deficiency, as did the human control of the Nile River.
A consequence of the increased drilling since then is the lowering of the groundwater level. An informant and other farmers, recalling their childhood during the
beginning of the 1990s, said that the artesian wells had functioned well up to that
period. The water even came out so strong that it was difficult to close the valve, but
since then, it has become easy to do so. Today, all the artesian wells are dried up,
and the water can be discharged only by pumping.
7 Recommendations
This chapter examined the history of wells in Rashda village to help explain the relationship between humans and water. The study revealed the increase of wells with
the development of technology whose consequence was the lowering of groundwater level. To further study the consequences, research is required to monitor the
groundwater table.
Another important subject is the villagers’ perception of groundwater. Interestingly, it seems that the villagers, including the informant and other farmers, view the
problem as a matter of water flow uncertainty, rather than as a risk of exhausting the
overall groundwater storage. If the water flow stops from one well, they drill a new
replacement well with new well designer. Thus, the drilling of wells continues and
has accelerated in recent years to ensure water supply.
217
These new wells became deeper as shown in the actual depth of wells. They are
categorized as local wells in the village are called replacement wells that were drilled
by the Ministry of Irrigation to replace the dried-up wells. They are supervised by
the Ministry of Irrigation. Thus, their discharge level is under the control of the
government, in contrast to the surface springs or investment wells.
6 Conclusions
Until the first half of the twentieth century, the villagers’ lives depended on the water
accessibility that was limited and unstable. In a sense, the life of those days was one
determined by the water.
The drastic change of the human relationship with groundwater occurred with the
development of modern technology since the late 1950s. The vertical and horizontal
exploitations of the groundwater were enabled by the deep-well drilling machines
and the development of pumping technology. The technology of water discharge
enabled the discharge of a large amount of groundwater and the ability to overcome
water deficiency, as did the human control of the Nile River.
A consequence of the increased drilling since then is the lowering of the groundwater level. An informant and other farmers, recalling their childhood during the
beginning of the 1990s, said that the artesian wells had functioned well up to that
period. The water even came out so strong that it was difficult to close the valve, but
since then, it has become easy to do so. Today, all the artesian wells are dried up,
and the water can be discharged only by pumping.
7 Recommendations
This chapter examined the history of wells in Rashda village to help explain the relationship between humans and water. The study revealed the increase of wells with
the development of technology whose consequence was the lowering of groundwater level. To further study the consequences, research is required to monitor the
groundwater table.
Another important subject is the villagers’ perception of groundwater. Interestingly, it seems that the villagers, including the informant and other farmers, view the
problem as a matter of water flow uncertainty, rather than as a risk of exhausting the
overall groundwater storage. If the water flow stops from one well, they drill a new
replacement well with new well designer. Thus, the drilling of wells continues and
has accelerated in recent years to ensure water supply.