Practical pollution prevention approaches depend on a variety of factors:

¤ Understanding groundwater flow to wells: Water flows to and passes a bored well from varying distances and higher land levels. The entire land surface area contributing water to a well is called the zone of contribution.

¤ Recording Well Details: The driller should provide basic information on completion of drilling including: well depth, diameter, depth to bedrock, type of subsoil and rock encountered, water strike levels. In addition information on well output and chemical / microbiological analysis should also be undertaken.

¤ Vulnerability Assessment: Leading to proper siting of wells to assess hydrogeological setting of the area, in particular the permeability and thickness of subsoils and evaluation of risk posed by any other hazard.

¤ Assessment of Water Quality: Monitoring for contaminants provides direct information on contamination and evaluation of data may assist in detecting source of contamination.

¤ Well Construction and Sanitary Protection: This includes proper grouting of borehole and the fitting of a secure watertight cover on completion of drilling. Well construction standards are not regulated and therefore many rural wells are contaminated due to faulty construction.

¤ Well Disinfection: Disinfection is an important means of protecting water quality from bacteria contamination. Methods to disinfect wells outlined include using bleach chloros.