[[Image:Rota sludge in action.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Rota sludge in action]]
[[Image:Deep drilling with the rota sludge.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Deep drilling with the rota sludge]]
[[Image:Rota_sludge_well_drilling.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Drilling a 20 m deep well in Chinandega, Nicaragua, with the Rota-sludge method ]]
[[Image:Rota sludge drill bit.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Rota sludge drill bit]]
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The Rota Sludge is a manual drilling technique based on the [[Sludging - Asian sludge |Asian sludge]] technique, and adapted for harder soil types. To drill through the harder layers, a hardened drill bit and weight have been added. Just after the downward movement of the drill pipes the drill bit is rotated a quarter turn, thus chiselling the bottom of the hole. Water is circulated to bring the cuttings to the surface.
==Construction, operations and maintenance==
[[Image:Diagram of a rota sludge.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Diagram of a rota sludge]]
[[Image:Rota_sludge_well_drilling.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Drilling a 20 m deep well in Chinandega, Nicaragua, with the Rota-sludge method ]]
[[Image:Rota sludge drill bit.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Rota sludge drill bit]]
Cow dung is mixed with water to create a very low cost drilling fluid. It may take several weeks after the drilling is finished for the pathogens (bacteria) to die and disappear completely out of the well.
