In 2023, Welthungerhilfe (WHH), under the “Stabilizing Livelihood and Promoting Resilience in Afghanistan, AFG 1260” program, sought to improve access to safe drinking water for drought-affected and vulnerable households across five northern provinces: Balkh, Jawzjan, Samangan, Kunduz, and Takhar.
To realize this goal, Shatoot was commissioned to conduct a technical feasibility study and design 25 solar-powered water supply systems, each serving between 120 and 150 households, across 25 villages. These systems were designed to provide sustainable, off-grid access to safe water for communities facing severe water shortages and unreliable power supply.
Each water system includes solar-powered boreholes, gravity-fed reservoirs, and community tap stands, providing efficient and environmentally friendly water delivery.
By combining engineering excellence with community engagement, Shatoot developed designs that are technically sound, socially accepted, and environmentally sustainable.
- Our Role
Our team conducted multi‑province field surveys to determine optimal locations for wells, reservoirs, and solar arrays. We designed all system components, mechanical, electrical, structural, and hydraulic, in line with USACE, WHO, and Afghanistan Building Codes, and delivered complete design packages including technical drawings, bills of quantities, and specifications for all 25 sites. In areas where drilling was not feasible, we proposed alternative water sourcing options such as spring‑water diversion and rainwater harvesting. A comprehensive quality assurance plan was developed to ensure all designs met international standards of safety, efficiency, and durability. We also introduced a communication framework linking WHH, its implementing partners, local authorities, and community representatives to guarantee coordination and transparency. Throughout the assignment, Shatoot Consultants ensured active consultation with village elders, CDC members, and provincial water departments, so that all designs were community‑endorsed and ready for implementation.
- Innovative Solutions
In this project, Shatoot Consultants designed Slow Sand Filtration (SSF) systems for villages where drilling water wells was not feasible. SSF is a natural, low‑cost, and highly effective method of treating water, but it is rarely applied in Afghanistan. Implementing such systems required specialized knowledge and technical expertise, as the process depends on carefully engineered layers of sand and gravel that filter contaminants through biological and physical mechanisms.
