My career change from drilling for oil to drilling for water
One of UNICEF’s few hydrogeologists shares how innovation is helping improve access to clean water for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.
I used to work on oil rigs and hated it. One day, perched on a cold outpost surrounded by the dark choppy waters of the UK’s North Sea, I realized that instead of extracting dirty fossil fuels, I wanted my work to have a more positive impact.
That’s when I decided to go back to university and study hydrogeology, which is the scientific understanding of underground water, its quality, movement and the rocks and soils which surround it. From the start, I was driven by the belief that water is life. This conviction is a principle that guides my work every day.
With this knowledge, I embarked on my career as a hydrogeologist working with IFRC (the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), UNHCR and now UNICEF to get clean water to families facing floods, droughts, earthquakes and conflicts.
More than drinking water
One experience that has stayed with me happened during a major flood in Malaysia. As we delivered emergency water supplies, I met a woman digging through her mud-soaked belongings. When I asked what she needed most, she replied, “A washing machine, so I can have clean clothes again.” That moment reminded me that water isn’t just about drinking – it’s about dignity and restoring a sense of normality after disaster.
I’m currently working with colleagues and partners to scale up the use of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) with UNICEF. Through the building of terraces, wells, and channels, we capture rainwater during wet periods and store it underground for use in dry times. Using this powerful yet simple approach, we hope to get a more sustainable supply of clean water to children and their families from Afghanistan to Timor-Leste.
Game changing technology
Now, with the UNICEF Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub (the Hub), I'm proudly piloting new technology that could be a game-changer in how we find clean water in some of the world’s driest and most fragile countries.
Transient electromagnetics (TEM) uses electrical pulses to help calculate the depth, size and type of underground reservoirs and even the salinity of the water.
The newly improved technology which can be carried by hand and even towed by helicopter, can collect data at depths of down to 500 metres (just under 10 times the height of the Niagra Falls). The data is sent to an app, which crucially, is easy to analyze after just a short training session.
There are many security and access challenges of introducing new technology in places like Afghanistan and Somalia. But it’s exactly this fragility which makes it so absolutely critical to focus on these countries where the need is greatest.
We are already seeing some successes. With the support of UNICEF country offices, TEM has been used to find suitable drilling spots near a refugee camp in Somalia and validate the most efficient places to build a MAR project in Iraq. In Afghanistan, partners are keen to expand the use of the technology to combat water scarcity for families across the country.
Innovation is more important than ever
Everywhere I go, I meet local communities, engineers, and officials who are hopeful about what new technology and approaches can bring. The relationships built by our country office staff and partners are the foundation of our progress. Yet sustaining this momentum will depend on continued funding, collaboration, capacity building and advocacy.
As we face challenges like funding constraints, conflict and climate change, innovation is more important than ever. At the Hub, we’re not just using innovative technology to map aquifers, we’re working to make sure that the water extracted from them is safe, and through innovative financing, that they are sustainable.
I’m grateful I changed course all those years ago. Water isn’t just about drinking; it’s about security, safety and dignity. And together, we can bring that to children and families who need it most.
