Handpump monitoring, yield test and checking a management committee's cash book

Flow rate = 20 L / time (s) x 60.

Capacity estimated in proportion to the flow rate (500 x flow rate / 17): FP2 about 372 people (overload of 248); FP4 about 294 people (overload of 246); FP5 about 490 people (overload of 210). The long queuing times at the three boreholes confirm the overload.

Interpretation: FP4 has a very low flow rate and should be checked first (worn seals or cup seals, leak in the rising main, or a drop in the water table); FP5 and FP2 also exceed the 500 m distance: an additional water point is needed for the distant households.

Possible borehole-days: 5 x 31 = 155. Days in operation: 31 x 4 + 24 = 148. Rate: 148 / 155 = 95.5%.

For 7 days, the 380 users of FP3 went to other points, probably FP1 (450 people, compliant) or unprotected sources. FP1 may then have served about 830 people, with longer queues. The main risk is the use of open wells or the seasonal stream, and therefore waterborne diseases. The breakdown was repaired in 7 days thanks to the committee's cash: this is a positive point to keep, but a minimum stock of wearing parts is needed to reduce this delay.

Contributions: 62 x 5,000 = GNF 310,000, not 320,000: an error of 10,000.

Correct theoretical balance: 1,250,000 + 310,000 - 185,000 - 150,000 - 40,000 = GNF 1,185,000. The recorded balance (1,195,000) carries over the error on contributions. The cash count (1,185,000) matches the correct balance: there is no cash shortage, only a calculation error to be corrected in the book.

Collection: 62 / 76 = 81.6%; 14 households have not paid, i.e. GNF 70,000.

Problems to correct: GNF 190,000 of expenses without a supporting document (labour and transport): obtain a statement signed by the technician and the transporter, and countersigned by the chairperson; have each transaction signed by two members; carry out a monthly cash count in the presence of two members, recorded in the book; check with the committee whether the 14 non-contributing households are exempt (vulnerable) households under a decision of the general assembly or late payers to be followed up. The assistant supports the committee, but does not manage the cash in its place.

Example: "Subject: Borehole monitoring, October. Of the five boreholes monitored, the functionality rate is 95.5% (FP3 broken down from 07/10 to 14/10, repaired by the committee). Three boreholes are overloaded: FP2 (620 people, flow rate 12.6 L/min, queuing 40 min), FP4 (540 people, flow rate 10 L/min, queuing 55 min) and FP5 (700 people, flow rate 16.7 L/min, queuing 45 min). FP2 and FP5 also have households more than 500 m away (650 and 800 m). Proposed priorities: (1) technical visit to FP4 this week: check the seals, cup seals and rising main, and measure the water level; (2) study of a new water point between FP5 and the most distant households; (3) organisation of water collection times at FP2 with the committee in the meantime; (4) stock of wearing parts at the partner hardware shop or with the committee. The FP3 cash book contains an error of GNF 10,000, with no shortage; support with cash management is planned."