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The Baptist Manual Drilling Method

The Baptist Method Rig

Developed by missionary engineer Terry Waller through Water For All International, the Baptist method is an open-source manual percussion-jetting technique widely used in Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Madagascar.

Operating Mechanism

                  ┌───────── Tripod Pulley
                  │
             [Rope/Lever]
                  │
             ┌────┴────┐ ◄── Drill Pipe Discharge
             │  Hollow │
             │  Steel  │
             │  Stem   │
             └────┬────┘
                  │
             ┌────┴────┐
             │ Dart /  │
             │ Foot    │
             │ Valve   │
             └────┬────┘
                  ▼ Chisel Cutting Bit
  1. Reciprocating Stem: The operator raises and drops the drill pipe using a wooden tripod and overhead rope pulley.
  2. Internal Foot Valve: Inside the cutting bit is a simple steel dart valve. When the stem drops, the valve is forced open by the water column, taking in slurry and pulverized cuttings. On the upstroke, the valve snaps shut, forcing the slurry up inside the pipe and discharging out a top swivel hose into a settling pit.
  3. Continuous Re-Circulation: Water from the settling pit settles out rock cuttings and flows back into the borehole, maintaining hydrostatic head to prevent borehole wall collapse.

Complete Turnkey Cost Breakdown (25m Well)

Item Description Cost (USD)
Drilling Labor 4-person crew for 2 days $180
Rig Consumables Re-sharpening bits, rope, valve rubber $30
Well Casing & Screen 25m Class 9 PVC pipe (100mm) + slotted intake $240
Gravel Pack & Grout 0.5 $m^3$ graded silica sand + 2 bags cement $70
Concrete Sanitary Apron 1.5m diameter concrete slab, plinth & runoff drain $180
Pumping Hardware Afridev hand pump (or Rope pump for $100) $650
Water Testing Bacteriological testing & chlorine disinfection shock $50
TOTAL TURNKEY COST Fully completed, safe community water point $1,400 USD