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I'm not aware of any source of geological records for Cameroon, but any that exist are unlikely to be finely-detailed. The advantage of boring rather than digging a well, is that it is relatively cheap to abandon a bore that hits hard rock and try again elsewhere. The downside is that pump failure in a borehole means no supply for days or weeks. Ideally, a community needs:

• either multiple boreholes for diversity
• or a dug well with both pump and a windlass, rope and bucket within a locked well-housing for back-up - if a universal pump stand is set in the cover slab, the pump can be retrofitted

I agree with David that Cameroon is littered with wells that ceased to function within months of installation. Sometimes it's simply because the well was dug or bored in a wet season instead of a dry season. Frequently it's because the pump failed and was not repaired. Imprecise adjustment of pump rod length is a frequent but frequently-unrecognised cause of breakdown.

You therefore need community (or possibly fair-trading entrepreneurial) buy-in and a programme of ongoing support to deliver a sustainable solution and avoid wasting resources. Not only does a community need access to spare parts in a country without a reliable postal service, but also to sufficiently trained and experienced technicians, of whom there are extremely few.

The AfriDev is VLOM, but it has historically had problems – see https://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/conference/27/Hankin.pdf. It uses $1 neoprene piston seals that cannot easily be made locally. If they are not imported and distributed locally, their failure renders the pump unusable when they wear out, typically after a year. A bottom support system helps to extend the life of the riser pipe.

The India Mk2 is not VLOM, as personnel require thorough training to lift the riser pipe correctly and safely for cylinder maintenance. However, the India Mk3 is VLOM.

As of 2013, an agent had been appointed for the BluePump in Cameroon, but I was told that it would not be economic to import anything less than half a container-load, so there was zero infrastructure for acquiring or maintaining a BluePump. The BluePump is also not VLOM. While the shift to stainless steel piston rings has undoubtedly increased MTBF, like any machine, the pump is not maintenance free, despite being promoted as such.

Remember also that it takes days to travel distances that take hours to travel in the UK! If you are unlucky, the aircon in your bus may consist of it having no windows. Some sort of lightweight scarf will give you some protection from sampling the geology of a dirt road in Cameroon with your lungs!

Good luck,

Alan