Project news.

Presentation of final report to Deputy Minister Ahmad Shaheer Shahriar in MRRD by Dr. Stoveland and Eng Abrar , Norplan. HE was pleased with the completion of the project and emphasized that the project report and documentations developed under the project should be distributed to all water sector stakeholders. HE also highlighted that MRRD were in close dialogue with MEW discussing water sector services and MRRD would support MEW who now has the jurisdiction groundwater to continue this work started in MRRD. MRRD and MEW also work closely on the Citizen Charter program for effective service provision for all Afghans for reducing service gaps and for securing sustainable and viable services.

Water situation at Maymane as analyzed based on MRRD and DACAAR surveys. -

The final report covering the investigations near Maymane Airport. After field testing, exploratory drilling and test-pumping had been completed the final report was finalized, here enclosed. Just click on to read. (Full report file size is 8 mb.)

Report completed by David Banks and Andreas de Jong. Revised May 2015 by David after receiving comments from Ali Poya, MRRD a few days before.

Final report submitted Dec. 2015, (no annexes)

Final. Click to review

GIS- MIS: draft final report Dec.2015

Click to review

MRRD- GeoVista Well Logger Manual

click to review ( logger)

Draft final training report, Jan. 2016

Click to view

AS AGREED IN THE ANNUAL MEETING, THE PROJECT WILL CLOSE 31.12.2015.

Draft completion reports have been submitted and final documents as well as all equipment and transport procured will be handed over to MRRD in February 2016.

As outlined in the agreement between MRRD and NORAD, an annual meeting was scheduled for November 2015. Rather than conducting this in Kabul, it has been proposed to be held in Dubai so that the annual meeting could be combined with possible donor meetings to search funding for project continuity. However, Government staff from MRRD could not obtain visas for The United Arab Emirates. Subsequently a Video conference was organized between MRRD ( Deputy Minister Ahmad Shaheer Shahriar, Eng. Safi, from Norplan Kabul office: Eng Abrar and Prof. Eqrar. In Dubai the NORAD representative Mr. M. Rafat was together with Dr. Stoveland from Norplan, Norway).

The project progress was discussed. NORAD informed that there was no funding for extension on current budgets and the refugee situation made development support from Norway stained for 2016. NORAD was impressed with the MRRD involvement working on the Citizen Charter program and indicated that it could be an idea to prepare a proposal for 2017. As such, the current project had to close by the end of 2015 as previously agreed. The project has achieved much and there were no major issues to be address / resolved.

Enlarged diagrahm

"MAKING AFGHANISTAN DEVELOP FASTER AND BETTER" - Great tool.

This groundwater mapping project has shown the importance of using modern IT tools such as GIS. With the free use of Online ArcGIS software, the opportunity is here for most to use this tool without having to pay for expensive licenses.

National Conference is under planning to facilitate for all GIS users to meet, learn from each other, share experiences and to find where support and assistance can be found when and if required. A national GIS conference is under planning at MRRD and all key known GIS users in the water sector has been contacted for making this conference useful for all. Agenda and program will shortly be published here or contact: s-zarinkhail@norplan.af for details. see GIS illustration

The data collected using the new well logging vehicles and equipment needs interpretation. This interpretation is complicated and experience makes this work easier.

Since now MRRD as well as DACAAR, MEW and AGS all have well logging equipment with little of now manuals, this data interpretation course was much in demand.

Course was organised by Andreas de Jong, Norplan and held at ARDI (Training centre) at MRRD. Click to see course photos:

DACAAR had one of its Land-cruisers rebuilt for use as purpose build well logger. The logging equipment was fitted into the vehicle using the same design as used by MRRD. Vehicle is now fully functional and ready for use.

The photos show the logger vehicle and inside view showing GeoVista winch, work table and portable generator.

For more details and photos click here

The Hydrogeological Survey results and methods were brought to international attention at the International Association Congress in Rome in September this year. David Banks, from Norplan /Holymoor gave 2 presentations om behalf of the project team:

1. A conceptual Model for Hydrogeological Atlas for Sustainable groundwater Management in Faryab, Northern Afghanistan. +
2. Evolution of salinity and groundwater chemistry in an irrigated semi-desert environment, Faryab.

An Afghan delegation with three person from MRRD, and a professor from Kabul University and a local Norplan engineer should also have attended the conference, but Visa problems preventedtheir attendance. Both Eng M. Safi and Prod. Eqrar had also prepared presentations for the conference. ( see list of presentations/documents)

As a follow-up, a meeting was held at Ministry of Energy and water ( MEW) to establish a technical committee and a working group to develop an action plan for ground water mapping in Afghanistan in line with the National Groundwater Conference declarations. The new Deputy Minister Fahimullah Ziaie (on the right in the right hand photo above) opened and chaired his first meeting in MEW since being appointed deputy minister.

Agreement was made to establish the committee with members from all key stakeholders present from MEW, MRRD, AGS, AUWSSC, MUDA,Kabul University, DACAAR,NORPLAN,

Received ordered Toyota Hilux Diesel, which is the replacement vehicles for RuWatSIP for the second hand land cruiser provided as well- logger vehicle.

Vehicle will be handed over to RuWatSIP this month.

A meeting was convened to brief HE Deputy Minister A. S. Shahriar about the project, status and possible way forward.

The meeting was organized with Dir Ghulam Qader, (right) HE Deputy Minister, and Dr. Svein Stoveland, Norplan and Eng. Naqibullah Abrar ( behind camera).

The project has come a long way and with the recent implementation of the National Groundwater Conference where 8 ministries agreed that groundwater mapping in Afghanistan is needed and that this has to be done in a coordinated manner involving all resources for national development. (See conference declaration)

A practical training program is ongoing for a small group of operators of advanced logging equipment. Geophysicists and hydrogeologists from MRRD, MEW and DACAAR are being trained by Andreas de Jong using the new logging equipment in MRRD. The training will continue for some weeks and about 10 boreholes will be logged and tested using the different logging tools.

Boreholes at MRRD, MEW and MOM have already been inspected. Later training course will be followed up for data interpretation training for a wider audience including students ( see photos, course plans)

DACAAR has also purchased well logging equipment from GeoVista. This is the same type of equipment as procured by MRRD and installed in a purpose made vehicle. DACAAR is also preparing a special vehicle purposely adapted for the equipment.

Andreas de Jong from Norplan who is currently running a training program for operators of well logging equipment visited DACAAR together with David Banks when DACAAR was unpacking the equipment and making the first to assure that all equipment parts were working as planned. DACAAR is participating in the well logging training program together with operators from MRRD and MEW. Photo show winching equipment being tested. See more photos..

The National TV channel RTA invited Prof. Naim Eqrar ( Kabul University) to discuss groundwater issues in Afghanistan based on his involvement in the National Groundwater Conference recently held in the Marmareen Palace and the Professors involvement in the NORAD sponsored Hydrogeology Project at MRRD. Professor Eqrar is the National Training expert working with Norplan implementing the project for hydrogeological mapping of Faryab.

The TV program focused which lasted for one hour covered: -Main objective of Project , What we have done -What we have do in a future -What was the main objective of national conference -Main points in declaration -Action plan for the future..

Afghanistan Engineering Association (AEA) is inviting to a national ground water conference. MRRD/ NORPLAN is providing support to this important conference which is planned for 7th-8th June 2015.

For the NORAD supported project with MRRD, this may be seen as a milestone for passing on activities to Afghan stakeholders active in the sector. For this is an important event. AEA has mobilized many of its members to make all preparations for the workshop best possible. We all hope for success.! Click on poster for enlargement

Invitation letter
Tentative agenda.

After successful and promising test at RuWatSIP, MRRD, Norplan has organized to move the second test unit to a local community for testing how this may serve local settlements. MRRD and NCA is involved in the testing process.

The unit has been assembled, and introduced to the community. Now the trials on functionality, O&M and user friendliness starts. Reports will follow. see more details with photos and setup.

The Dir. G. Qader presented the Norplan team with Dr. Stoveland, Eng. Abrar and Prof. Eqrar to the Hon. Minister. The purpose was to present the project and discuss status and the possible way forward. The Hon. Minister emphasized the importance of local ownership, good coordination and that groundwater management should be appropriately coordinated with MEW.

The Minister supported the proposed National Groundwater Conference planned by the Afghan Engineering Association where MRRD and NORAD support project experiences would be shared and discussed.

We are all quite excited after ther first preliminary test for removing turbididy and bacteria from untreated river water.

The Hon. Minister Osmani received Dr. Stoveland, Eng. Abrar and Prof. Eqrar from Norplan to his office to discuss hydrogeological mapping, capacity building, protection of groundwater resources and the importance of good coordination and cooperation between sector actors. Eng Shobair from MEW/FAO who guided the team to the Hon. Minister Norzai, is also member of the Afghan Engineering Association(AEA). The Hon. Minister was informed about the AEA planned National Groundwater Conference and requested to support the initiative.

It was a good preparatory meeting for the planners of the National Conference where AEA, MRRD and Norplan are active.

We have uploaded the latest and draft final version of the web Atlas.

The complete version in PDF is 20 megabytes so if you want to download chapter by chapter go to the Water Atlas Web Page to download.

The draft final version also includes Conclusions.

S. Stoveland, Norplan, attended the Spring Meetings with World Bank/IMF this year. In that connection he met the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende and handed him a status rapport for the NORAD funded capacity building project for ground water mapping currently implemented under MRRD in Afghanistan. The Hon. minister was asked look at a project which can show good progress and which may make some difference to Afghanistan, to MRRD and to all water sector stakeholders involved in the water sector. see rapport : front page or whole report (PDF, 7 Mb)

Two SkyHydrant membrane filtration units have been bought for testing in Afghanistan. The ultra membrane filtration unit has a capacity of 500-700 liters per hour with low pressure head. All operation is manual with no consumables needed and with a life of 10 years or more. Sounds very good!

What is more and special is that the pore openings in the membrane is extremely small, 0.04 microns, while bacteria ( ecoli) are about 1.8 microns. That means that the filter can remove particles but also bacteria and to a large extent viruses also!!.

We are now going to test to learn how units works and how to operate the units. How backwashing works, and how often and easy the backwashing works. Looks very promising: http://www.skyjuice.com.au/skyhydrant.htm

The work with commissioning of the well logger has started. The vehicle is ready , equipment fitted , and a suitable test well identified inside the MRRD compound.

First the video-camera was fitted for test of winch and control unit. All functioned perfectly well. great excitement over this powerful tool now soon to be introduced to the hydrogeologists in MRRD. See photos or video. or on Youtube.

We are very happy to provide this update that the training has now covered 771 course participants from 42 different organizations. Forty short training courses has been implemented. DACAAR has assisted with running about 10 of the courses with increased focus on decentralized and community activities.

Click for further enlarged diagram and overall course evaluations.

Well logger vehicle now nicely rebuilt at Toyota in Kabul and fitted with delicate logger tool equipment. The winch is fitted together with tool boxes for storing delicate logger tools safely. The operators also have space inside for working with the logging control units . Room for 2-3 persons. see larger photos. Now the commissioning of the equipment and training of technicians is about to start. This is quite exciting to have such a powerful tool. DACAAR has also purchased similar equipment so they will join in the training program.

Dr. Stoveland and Eng. Abrar paired up to present the concept and innovations developed in the hydrogeology project. English and Dari. Close to 100 students listened for nearly 2 hours! Presentation of ground water mapping, surveys, data management, and making of maps, GIS, and web solutions. The IT solutions for presentation was shown including training videos, maps, Water Atlas and project web page.

It will be interesting to see how the youth may use this to follow up on the Internet and the web.

This important course was run at MRRD, RuWatSIP for the purpose of training staff already familiar to ArcGIS on how to use ARCGSI Online utility.

Course organized by Andreas de Jong, Norplan with support of Prof. Zarinkhail and Prof. Eqrar.. 14 participants attended, 7 from MRRD, and persons from MEW, MAIL MOM and DACAAR.

See more photos or course report

The current training course focuses on importing data from excel and access software. The data needs to be "cleaned" and checked before it can be used for making maps.

For future development of online maps for Afghanistan it is essential that this expertise is developed for quality control and for generating trustworthy information.

Course organized by Andreas de Jong with support of Prof. Zarinkhail. see more photos.

As the number of participants in the training courses increased, it became increasingly difficult to manage all the names and courses in a single excel spreadsheet. For that purpose a database was designed and developed. Information is now available covering participants and their organizations, courses, trainers, and co-trainer. IN addition, all the course evaluation results are also entered into the database.

Presently the different rapports are available in pdf file format under training progress menu. .( click on report icons for details)

The annual meeting for 2014 was held in the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kabul 25th November 2014. The Delegation from MRRD was lead by Deputy Minster Tarriq Ismati with Dir. Ghulam Qader and M. Afsal Safi. NORAD was represented by Kim Kristmoen, while Nina Hal Scheldrup was representing the Norwegian Embassy. Dr. Svein Stoveland, Naqibullah Abrar and Prof. Eqrar represented NORPLAN.

The review covered this project covered by t his web page.

In Summary, all parties express content with the project progress and is was agreed that the project implementation period should be extended till the end of 2015 so as to finalize the bulk project TOR. see more details from the meeting. Click for photos and presentations

The MRRD drilling team have completed the second borehole to a dept of 127 meters near Maymane.

Picture of the drilling setup and rig used.

Click on photo (left) to enlarge or see more photos from the drilling activities

Abrar, deputy team leader for Norplan in Kabul, was invited to Norplan in Kristiansand to meet HQ staff, review and update project technical and financial project documents. Here seen together with Norplan/ Asplan Viak personnel at the Kristiansand Office, Norway. Click for enlarged photo

The drilling of the 2nd borehole is now in good progress. A new drillbit has been procured and shipped to Maymane. ( see equipment list)

for more photos or info about drilling progress.

Exploratory driling ongoing in Faryab. 107 meters depth reached first week! Photo by Eng. Hadi

see more photos of drilling work and geological formations. See also drilling reports and results from first drilled well.

We can congratulate RuWatSIP with their new web page. The page looks very nice and has beautiful design.

It will be very nice to be able to follow this page and be able to get rural water sector updates regularly. Very good.

The web page was developed by the local consultant firm Devede, Kabul and handled by Fariba in Communication Unit, in RuWatSIP. The web page was funded by Norplan under the NORAD project in MRRD.

Again congratulation with a very nice page.

link: http://www.mrrd-ru-watsip.org

Now the first web maps have been put online. At the moment the online maps cover location and type of water points, depth to static water level, electrical conductivity and geology. Where other information is available such as well logs and water quality analysis these can be accessed online through direct links.

As you zoom in below scale of 1:80,000, high resolution images will appear to facilitate navigation and show where water points are relative to features such as building, canals and roads. Click to view links to online maps

Course organised and implemented by DACAAR WetCentre trainining unit. 4 persons participated from MRRD. This was the second time this course was implemented by this project. See more photos

Training courses have been held at RuWatSIP, at DACAAR, in the field in Mazaar and in Maymane. In addition, workshops on water quality control has been held to create awareness of the quality control of water testing laboratories.

Training courses are also progressing in the field of GIS, ArcGIS for display of training materials.

Practical training on well logging is still awaiting the release of the equipment from the customs, but this will hopefully be released soon. See more details on training outputs.

RuWatSIP has mobilized one of its rotary drilling rigs for the exploratory drilling work to be undertaken in Faryab. The first of 5 boreholes is in progress for exploring the water aquifer near Maymane city. The drilling will be accompanied with test pumping and practical training courses in the province. A drilling team from RUWatSIP is there together with support field staff from DACAAR.

All are looking forward to see what information this work will provide for future development

TC 5.8 focused on practical training on sampling, testing and reporting from water analysis using simple field kits. The course covered introduction of key water quality parameters, training in how to sample, hands on training on using field kits and simple field instruments. Frederic Patingy, WHO trained participants how to test for bacteriological contamination of water using field kits.

All participants also training basic chemistry calculations of concentrations covering mt/l, meqv/l, mole, more. Course held at MRRD, RuWatsip. See photos and presentations

This course is an extension of earlier hydrochemistry course coveing practical water testing.

The second traing course was organised by DACAAR, WetCentre covering Operation and Maintenance of rural water supplies. There were 14 participants with 6 from MRRD, two from PRRD, and the rest from Oxfam, Care Intn, Save the Children, Kabul University, Min of Agriculture, and Dacaar. The evaluation and details about the course can be seen in the Completion Report.

Training course was completed to take participants deeper into the subject of ArcGIS. Participants attending this course had previously attended the basic course. Course prepared by Mr. Iqbal, while the course was coordinated by Prof. Zarinkhail.

Participants seem to enjoy the course. ( see course reports)

A team of hydrogeologists from MRRD travelled to Maymane to locate sites for exploratory drilling and for seeking agreement with land owners of permission to drill. Eng Jalil, senior hydrogeologist from MRRD led the team assisted by Eng Massod.

The picture left show is from the field near Maymane where a landowner is signing an agreement to allow the project to start exploratory drillign on his land.

For more photos see here, and als see field report

Training course was completed to take participants deeper into the subject of Spacial Analysis. Participants attending this course had previously attended the basic course. ( Two basic couses were run because when intermediate course was fun first time, the participants were new and had not attended the basic course.) This course however had participants with previous training and the course part II was successfully completed. Course prepared by Mr. Iqbal, while the course was coordinated by Prof. Zarinkhail.

Congratulations Cecilie Kolstad. The field work was carried out in Kabul at NCA offices together with technical staff from NCA, MRRD and Norplan.

Very impressive to see that the tests demonstrated that the solar stills can deliver drinkable water from saline waters to the volume of over 4 liters per square meter grass area per day. A great start with the testing and development of potential household desalination plants for very hot and remote areas with salty ground waters and no surface water.

An Australian NGO, SkyJuice, has developed a membrane filter for drinking water which could be used for emergency applications as well as for water supply to villages and smaller settlements. These recycled high quality industrial membranes are for use in developing countries at lower costs. The SkyHydrant has manual backwashing, should last for about 10 years without repair, and each unit would deliver slightly less than 1000 liters per hour. These units can be used separately of in larger system with many units. With the membrane pore opening of about 0.4 micron, the filter would remove particles but also bacteria.

The project has placed an order for two units to be tested in Afghanistan for application in rural water supply. See technology page

The training courser for Hydrogeolological planning, surveying and mapping was implemented for the second time by David Banks and the local Norplan team at MRRD

This time, the Hydrogeological Atlas was nearly complete ( which was not the case last year when the course was first run. Focus was also given this time on training senior Hydrogeologists who could assist in implementing the course later if MRRD or others should desire to rerun the course. All the lectures and practicals for the course is available on the web for reuse. 21 people from Kabul and Faryab attended the course. Participants came from MRRD, University, MEW, MoM (AGS), KPU,NCA, DACAAR,

ANSA invited to a meeting 13th of May with a follow up Consultative committee meeting 3rd of June combined with a workshop whereby objectives, work plan, actors and TOR for committees and work groups should be developed and agreed. This was successfully done at ANSA 2-4th of June 2014. Two working groups are not established to develop needed policies and documentation of the Consultative Committee to discuss and adopt.

Very many key lab owners and stakeholders were in full support of this drive to develop quality control for of water testing analysis

See main page QC at ANSA
and Minutes with action agreed in last workshop

Course held at RuWatSIP in Hydrochemistry The course was delivered by David Banks with the support of Prof. Eqrar and Prof. Noor.

Again the course focused on practical application of basic chemistry with focus on hydrogeologists and water engineers. Much was on practicals, understanding and application of theories as well as calculations and reporting of results. All lecture notes are presented on web. Also see photos

Course held for the participants who had participated in the first cartography course.

The course had 12 participants and was given by Andreas de Jong and Prof. Zarinkhail with support of both Prof. Eqrar and Abrar.

Unfortunately some of the participants had not previously attended course I and that caused some challenges. See photos from course and course reports.

Five prototyoes of solar stills has now been prepared by the M.Sc student Cecilie Kolstad and a team from Kabul from NCA, MRRD and Norplan. The literature study and concept development was prepared by Cecilie before she came to Kabul. Once in Kabul a technical steering committee and the construction team discussed how to find appropriate materials and carpenters who could make the prototype stills.

The stills has now been through the first preliminary tests which seemed encouraging with a water production of about 7 liters from a m2 still. The next step now to start has to focus on hope to make good localized designs which local entrepreneurs can make and mass produce in provincial towns at reasonable costs. See more photos of design or description of results.

As on request, a practical on the job training course was prepared working though the data collected from the geophysical field surveys outside Maymane, Faryab. A team from both MRRD and DACAAR had been conducted surveys, and the data interpretation was done together.

The couse also discussed sites for exploratory wells to be drilled in the surveyed area. See more photos

This time it worked!. It has been difficult to organize the equipment for test-pumping. This time is seems to work well. Equipment worked, and data was collected with hard follow up work in analyzing the data and assessing well.

The course continued is spite a suicide attack on a building less that 500 meters away. Data collection had to be different, but all stayed on and worked hard.

From what we understand and hear this is the first stand alone test-pumping courses arranged in Kabul. It has taken much effort by many to make this happen. Logistics and course design. see many more photos

more photos..

The team visited the University outside Oslo to discuss possible areas of cooperation. Of particular interest was to hear about the special training courses in Water supply and sanitation as special courses, M. Sc. course organized via Internet ( remote training) and with some semesters as a university in the same region as the student and also with part of the course completed in Oslo.

Prof . Jensen was also very much involved in decentralized sanitation system and other types or technical solutions of interest to test out in Afghanistan.

Meeting MRRD and MFA/Norad
Click for more photos

Mid term review by COWI
Debriefing note or
PPT presentation

Annual meeting 2013, MRRD - NORAD
Click for summary

photos from the meeting?

Coordination meeting between MRRD, NCA, Norplan and University at Ås how to develop the idea of solar stills. Desk top study, manufacture and testing in Kabul.

Good progress on developing possible designs for testing. MRRD, NCA and NOrplan all prepared to assist to see test using being manufactures in Kabul. Excitement around Cecilie being asked by Norwegian broadcasting (NRK) for follow the solar still project to Kabul and Afghanistan. Click see more details from the meeting.

The delegation vIsited NIVA. Trine Olsen and Tomas Adler Blakseth informed about the laboratory and how it was organised and operating. NIVA was accredited close to 20 years ago, and much is fous in on quality control.

NIVA has supported establishment of laboratories in developing countries adn could provide training support to Afghan water laboratory staff if necessary. So now its up to the project to develop some proposals and ideas.

It was most useful to see the lab and how the wholed QA worked in practice. See more pictures and summary of presentations and discussions

This is one of the key outputs covering the water resource situation in Faryab. This is a draft report as yet. It will be discussed and finalised.

It will be discussed as to whether this also should be translated to Dari once the content has been finalised. David Banks has written this document.

Vy clicking on the icon to the left the document can be view as pdf ( 4.3 mb file size) ( Also listed in the menu under Hydrogeo. ( Atlas)

First visit by the delegation from MRRD visiting Norway in connection with the annual meeting witn NORAD. NGU is an organization with over 230 top sepecialists coving mapping of geological resources in both onshor and offshore. NGU also has the official responsiblity to map ground water resources in Norway including data cleaning, data management and publishing hydrogeological maps.

NCU has possiblities to assist with training and instititional support to MRRD for hydrogeologists and GIS specialist from Kabul. Here seen from the left, Eng. N Abrar, Norplan Kabul,..... Dir Ghumam Qader, MRRD, F. Haugan, S. Stoveland Norplan, and M.A. Safi, MRRD Kabul See more photos. see photos from visit to Norway

Meeting/Workshop held at Afghan National Standards Authority (ANSA) to discuss and agree on establinshing a consultative frawework for laboratory quality control system for Afghanistan. Meeting hosted and chaired by Dr. Khateer, Technical Deputy Director General.

Laboratory owners form government, NGOs and private sector present. MRRD, MoE, DACAAR, VICC company and more. Also UNICEF (heavy funding support for labs at MRRD, MoPH but also support to ANSA for water lab QC. NORPLAN provided guidance to roadmap for way forward. Agreement: All agreed on short term framework and national framework to be endorced by all in new meeting 24th March 2014 for all stakeholders.

Since the project is about half way completed, it was opportune to hold a mid term review workshop to review training plans, status, lessons learnt, and to hear comments from pasrticipants and organizations. One of the key outcome of the workshop was to collect advise for the way forward, modification in trainig courses and training calendar.

More that 50 participated, most of whom had attended or contributed in the previous workhop.

Discussions were good and active and many recommendations were collected. Picture from opering with Eng. M. Afzal Safi addressing participants. For more pictures , or for course presentation and outputs see see training outputs with workshop contents.

NORAD appointed COWI to undertake the mid term review of the project. David Heywood from COWI was given the task to undertake the assignment.

The photo shows David (right) together with
Muhammad Ajmal Samim – Interpreter, and
Hamayuon Paikar – National Consultant from Kaweyan Group in the NORPLAN office in MRRD building in Kabul.

The training program has now trained 219 different persons. The graph to the right shown that 137 have attended one course, 38 persons attended two courses, 16 persons 3 courses etc. This means that 409 course participants have been enrolled in the the 20 different courses so far conducted. Click for more information in charts

This part of the capacity building program is doing well. ( See also course reports)

This course, TC.1.10 has been rerun to focus on junior and students where female participants have been encouraged to participate.

About 30 participants benefited from the course run at RuWatSIP facilities at MRRD. The practical test-pumping as shown here was conducted on a 70m deep borehole just in from of MRRD compound.

The course was presented by Eng Hassan, DACAAR and prof. Eqrar, Norplan with good support of MRRD. For more photos click on this link

Solar driven desalination plants

Close collabortion between NCA and NORPLAN has led to the initiation of a testing and dervelopment project in Afghanisan involving also the Norwegian University UMB in Oslo and MRRD and Kabul University. NCA sees this technology as a potentials solution in poor, dry rural remote areas where low cost desalination is needed. A M.Sc. student at UMB has already started with litterature study supported by NCA. Once potential designs have been identified, f construction, testing and developing will take place in Afghanistan. MRRD will coordinate with other sector stakeholders on outcomes, NORPLAN will provide technical support, It is hoped that a stucent (s) from Kabul can be involved and gain applied research experience while following up field testing work. UMB and NORPLAN will joinlty support the development work to guide quality control and good quality R&D. Exciting project. ( See possible design options)

Course TC. 4.11 covering remote sensing for GIS was completed on 19th of January as a three days course. Barat was the competent course presenter. 17 participants attended the training course.

Course evaluation indicated that this course was well received.

The course coordinator was Prof. Zarinkhail and the GIS expert lecturer from the Maiwan University also supported the course: Muhammad Iqbal.

Great news. The cars which have been impounded in the customs warehouse for the last 15 months have now been cleared and NORPLAN will have three new Toyota Hilux pickups to use for transport. Great.

Now the old hired Corollas can be returned. The project team is pleased.

The course planned for provincial techncial staff was planned held in Maymane but moved to Mazaar for security reasons. Course developed by Dacaar, Hassan and Jawed working closely with prof. Eqrar. Course well received and it seemed to cover an inportant training gap.

It was imediately requested to repeat this course in other regions but also for junior staff and students in Kabul. see more photos or course reports under course TC2.5

Course with focus on water yield from a well, groundwater draw-down and how to make a good design of well with screens, protection for efficient and safe use of water source. Andreas de Jong, organized course and supported by Eng Abrar, Ali Poya and others.

Participants had to prepare a schematic design of a well and well as calculating yields. Important for water engineers and hydrogeologists. more photos

Interested in learning more? See introduction lecture

To quote Andreas in his introduction lecture: Course organized by Andreas de Jong and prof. Zarinkhail

Cartography is the art, science and ethics of map-making and map use.

This was a course for the specialists who already are familiar with ArcGIS software used for making maps.

The focus is. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE? How can the maps be designed so the user can get the message/ find his answer i 7 seconds or so? Rules and techniques for making good maps were covered, and participants also has do do some hard work. More photos

UNICEF invited main partners with deputy ministers form MRRD, MoPH and MOE being present. RuWatSIP lead by dir. Qader. Many NGOs and NORPLAN participated. The Deputy Minister MRRD Eng. Atiqullah Khawasi presenting his message to participants.

Eng. Abrar, Norplan (center)and Dir. A Merar, RRD (left) in meeting with the Governor Faryab, Prof. Muhammadullah Batash to inform about the project and to discuss the project activities and progress. A three weeks geophysical investigations survey has just started near Maymane Airport. These surveys supported by Norplan and implemented by MRRD, Kabul, RRD and DACAAR. During the last week the hydrogeologists will also visit Damquil area to survey the villages for potential water sources for future water supply development.

The Governor was consulted on different project activities including planning for three rural towns under the project. Ways for enhanced sector coordination was also discussed. see travel report, or more photos

A team lead by hydrogeologist Jalil from MRRD, and Eng Hassan from DACAAR flew to Maymane to start the planned geophysical surveys of the Aquifers near Maymane Airport and at Shirin Tagab. The local experts from Kabul was joined with hydrogeologists and geologists from RRD, Maymane to conduct the surveys using survey techniques covered in recent training courses and using a methodology as outlined by D. Banks. If survey is successful, this will be followed by exploratory drilling next year in order to map the potential water sources in aquifers in Faryab.

Photo above left shows admin and survey staff outside RRDs offices in Maymane preparing for geophysical surveys. Staff from MRRD, RRD, NORPLAN, and DACAAR, The photo on abvove right shows the geophysical survey team lead by Eng Jalil recording survey data from electrical soundings near the Rairport at Maymane. Click to se more photos

The course was planned and implemented by DACAAR and CAWST. 22 participants attended coming from 10 different organizations including MRRD. DACAAR work together with the Canadian NGO, CAWST.

The target group were trainers from different organizations.

The course in Well Hydraulics started 7th October. This course has both theoretical and practical elements to assess quantity of water that could be extracted for drinking water supplies. Participants will do step draw-down test analysis for well performance calculations.

s = BQ + CQ2
Hantush – Bierschenk Method of step discharge test analysis

The course will discuss pumping tests and how to interpretate data to assess possible pumping rates and recharging rates of ground water aquifers..

Focus again on combination of theory and practice for planning future water supplies. Course organized by Andreas de Jong assisted by Prof. Equar and Prof. Noor

more photos..

A well attended course with about 43 participants from sector ministries, ngos and universities.

The course was organised by Norplan with Andreas de Jong and Prof. Eqrar but with many local resource persons sharing their experiences in presentations.

This time the conference room at RuWatSIP became too small and the training venue had to be changed.See more photoes from class

Ministry of Energy and Water provided drilling rig for test drilling and demonstration of how work is done. See photos from field day.

Training course implemented by WETCENTRE, DACAAR for O&M of rural water supplies. This couse is following the key polucy framework developed under WSG for sustainable rural water supply and sanitation development for Afghanistan.

Course is a one of many standardised courses offered to the water sector actors in Afthanistan.

More photos

A special page has been prepared for displaying short training videos. Most videos are of shorter than 10 minutes duration. These are mainly videos recorded during the training courses implemented under the project. All the videos is currently presented on INTERNET in different file formats and also on YouTube. Later the training videos will be stored on CD for distribution to all trainers in need of the materials for further repetition of training courses.

Most of the videos are recorded in Dari with the occasional English presentations ( and translated).

Both the local and international staff met in Kabul in September for project Activities. In the picture from left, Prof S. Zarinkhail,(GIS) Andreas de Jong (Geophysics and training,, Prof. Eqrar( Training), Dr. Stoveland (team-leader). N. Abrar (deputy team-leader) , and in front on his knees, David Banks,( Hydrogeologist).

Absent when the photo was taken was Elisabet Eikaas, who left the day before.(Gender and conflict expert)

The internationals arrive about 7th of September and stayed till 20th. Andreas arrived a little later directly from Mali, and would stay for one months and complete two more training couses. the Proffessors and local project manager are working full time to implement the project on a day to day basis.. Quite exciting times with much progress now.

Short course implemented by DACAAR covering social aspects of water supply , sanitation, WASH policies and gender issues

Course implemented at DACAAR offices with many participants from RuWatSIP, and RRD Faryab

Course in progress as this is presented.

(See training calendar)

Eng. Abrar, project manager in Kabul visited Norway and the offices of Norplan, in Oslo, Kristiansand and Arendal.

The purpose of the visit was to finalize the project implementation plan with the project team leader in Norway. Furthermore, it was important to meet the finance department to be fully updated on the financial matters, local accounts and auditing and anti-corruption issues.

Special meeting was held with the Tor Gunnar, Responsible GIS expert in Norplan. During the visit, both Abrar and Stoveland had a meeting with NORAD to update the new project officer, Kim Kistmoen, on project status and progress.

Fortunately, Abrar found Norway in sunshine and could therefore do some sightseeing in Oslo and in southern Norway. If you want to see more... click here.

Our partners from DACAAR, Hassan and Jawed from planned and implemented two, two day training courses in Maymane covering first couse: GIS registration of water facilitiies.and second course following the first covered water quality testing in the field.

The course had 12 participants from RRD, local adn international NGOs. ( see list of participants)

For more details see menu: Training- Report coursewhere the course documents are listed.

David Banks and Andreas de Jong visited Geovista manufacturing plant for inspecting and learning more about the ordered equipment shortly to be shipped to Kabul.

The equipment is as good as expected and David seems content. He will forward some suggestions for the consideration of the client to order one or two optional extras.

To view photos of this specialized equipment with all its components click on the illustration on the left to view photos taken during the inspection visit.

As can be seen, this equipment should be supported by a dedicated car. Fortunately we have already ordered 3 twin cab Toyota pickups and one of these could be modified to transport the logging equipment well.

The first GIS course was held focusing on showing hydrogeologists how data about ground water resources could be effectively presented on maps.

This was introduction of the topic with a little theory of ArcGIS software, practical use of GIS at DACAAR, use of GIS in government institutions and also with presentation of how GIS is used for hydrogeologists in other countries. An active group of participants in the course organized by Prof. Zarinkhail, More photos?

The last large batch of water samples was sent for isotope analysis to UK. DACAAR has been visiting many water sources in Faryab and collected samples. In addition to assessing the water quality of the samples, the analysis may also tell us where the water comes from or have traveled to get to the sampling point. Could be important in order to understand the ground water system and what ground water sources could be available for development.

The training course in Geophysical Investigations has started. Participants from MRRD, MEW, DACAAR, NCA, RRD Faryab and 18 participants in all.

Andreas de Jong is responsible for the course and practical training which this time focuses on resistivity analysis.

The course in conducted in MRRD, RuWatSIP building and practicals in or arround MRRD compound.

Click here for more photos

The key NORPLAN staff from Kabul, Deputy team leader Abrar and Prof Zarinkhail (local GIS Adviser) traveled to the NORPLAN office in Abu Dhabi to meet NORPLAN experts Runar Bergheim and Tor Gunnar Overli. The purpose was to receive special support for establishing the GIS system in Kabul and in particular how to transpose the hydrogeological maps into Web solutions. (Water user maps)

The visit was important to speed up the finalization of the GIS system to be used for hydro-geological data presented in GIS.

It was proposed to use open source software for the web map solutions which Runar Bergheim would prepare and which would be introduced to Afghanistan and supported by training courses. Open source software is free and thus can be used by anybody Afghanistan who is interested and in need of software for such Internet publications

Eng. Wali Hakami was recruited for the Government directorship in RuWatSIP and will work together with the program director Ghulam Qader in the department.

see organization diagram

The first of the planned training courses has now started. The course was opened by Dir, Qader, and has participants from MRRD,RRD Faryab, MEW, NCA, DACAAR and others. Prof. Eqrar had the technical control and the leading course presenter was prof. Dr. Najaf.

The one weeks course is arranged in the training facilities in the National Area based programme, MRRD.

More for more photos click here...

Bridging workshop at MRRD Opened by Director Ghulam Qader, RuWatsip, Shinwari form Norwegian Embassy, Stoveland from NORPLAN, Director from Governors office in Faryab and many other participants from Faryab province, persons from MEW, DACAAR, HERVITIAS, NCA, MAIL,University, and others.

UNICEF participated and presented also their plans for GIS- database development for water supply functionality, water coverage and water quality nation data collection program under RuWatSIP.

NORPLAN present the Hydrogeological project to the Provincial Development Council in Maymane, Faryab.

The Governor, Muhammadullah Batash, gave the project full support as a valuable project focussing on providing Knowledge and developing skills and tools to map and use the ground water resources in a good manner.

Governor emphasised importance of all we to to be sustainable. There were some disturbing examples in the province of water supplies built and dysfunctional. Care should be taken to assure this did not happen again.

While in Maymane, meetings were held with DACAAR, NCA and MRRD.

With the only hotel in Town fully booked, NCA was most generous with accommodation for all 5 from Kabul.

New Video screens installed in RuWatSIP conference room and in both the GIS-MIS office and in the NORPLAN office.

This should greatly assist in displaying the hydrogeological information and maps developed under the project.

The NORPLAN office in RuWatSIP was crowed but now the office next door where the old archive used to be for RuWatSIP has been decorated and furnished for the GIS MIS activities in RuWatSIP.

Now all GIS- MIS personnel in RuWatSIP can sit together in one office for ease of coordination and planning.

Photo show Prof. Zhrinkhail now in his new office with dep. team leader Abrar Nor plan, the water tracker expert Rashid and the MIS assistant Amanuddin both the latter from RuWatSIP.

Office ready for use in March 2013

Team leader Svein Stoveland, visited Norplans office in Muscat,Oman, after the February visit to Kabul. The purpose was to explore utilising the expertise in that office covering GIS, database design and web posting of maps to support the hydrogeology project in Afghanistan.

Discussion focussed specifically on:

1) to facilitate a 2-3 day visit from Norplans Kabul office core personnel to give brief advise and training on how to boost the development of the GIS system design in Kabul.2) to discuss arranging a specialised training for GIS and Web based Map services to key specialists in MRRD and other key government offices utilising such information information systems for the water sector.

First field samples from Faryab sent to international laboratory for analysis. Snow / rainwater to be checked for salts and other impurities which could migrate to ground waters.

Samples collected by DACAAR / Hassan & Co.

Hon. Minister, MRRD, and f Act. Ambassador from Norwegian Embassy. Ms Locken and More than 50 participants and workshop opened by