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Rural Water Supply Corruption in Ethiopia 157
Figure 4.3
Measured versus Invoiced Depths in Sample Boreholes in Ethiopia
200
measured depth (m)
150
100
50
0
0 50 100
invoiced depth (m)
150 200
measured depth versus invoiced depth was 18 percent. Much of the
variance is accounted for by one agency: an indigenous NGO using its
own drilling rig, contracted by the regional water bureau.
It is conceivable that such “overshallow” boreholes have, in fact, silted
up because of poor construction or difficult geological conditions.
However, other observations point toward deliberate short-drilling, at
least for two boreholes where both screen and pump were installed at a
much shallower depth than reported in the completion certificate. For
the remaining boreholes where measured depth was within 15 percent of
the invoiced amount, it is more difficult to attribute variance to deliberate
short-drilling and corruption.
Variation in borehole diameter and materials. CCTV was also used to
check whether the borehole casing had been installed. However, the
process of removing the pump and rising main created significant turbidity
in the borehole water, making it difficult to evaluate construction
standards in detail. Instead, an attempt was made to merely observe
whether casing was present above the water table. In addition, it was not
always possible to measure the total length of screen in the borehole.
However, because uPVC screen and casing are similar in price in Ethiopia,
drillers are unlikely to economize on (normally more expensive) screen
by substituting casing.