The Rope Pump - The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

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BackgroundIn rural areas in manycountries, the dispersednature of the population has madehandpumps the technology of choicefor potable water supply. Handpumpsrequire lower upfront costs and lessmaintenance than piped networks.Despite these natural advantages,throughout the 1960s and 1970s itbecame clear that ‘Northern’ handpumptechnologies were not always applicableto a developing country framework.Pump repair and maintenanceoften proved problematic, as did theavailability of imported parts. In theearly 1980s, the WSP HandpumpsProject sought to address these issuesby developing the concept of ‘VillageLevel Operation and Maintenance’(VLOM) – a concept that was based onthe involvement of the user communityin maintenance, and technologysuited to this. The donor communityinvested considerable resources indeveloping ‘appropriate technology’pumps such as the India Mark II andAfridev pumps. However, these pumpsstill pose problems of high cost andsometimes complex supply chains forparts; in addition, there are alwayssome types of repair that the users can-not carry out (see Supply Chains SeriesNo. 2: Afridev Handpumps in Pakistan).The rope pump is a centuries-oldtechnology, with records of designsfrom ancient China and turn-of-thecenturyFrance. It has been used successfullyfor supplying both communitiesand individual families, but untilrecently was typically suitable only forgroundwater depths of less than 10meters. Whereas these older designssuffered in the long-run from their limitedapplicability, the rope pump – nowfound throughout Nicaragua and elsewherein Central America – has overcomethese initial design limitations.This achievement has made the ropepump comparable in functionality tomore expensive pumps.The Rope Pumpin NicaraguaThe majority of Nicaragua’s4.5 million people live onlowlands bordering the Pacific. Surfacewater is typically polluted and there iswidespread use of groundwatersources, whether these be communityor family wells. In the early 1980s, aBelgian technician developed a variationon the classical rope pump designfor use in irrigation. In 1988 the governmentshowed interest in developingthe pump for drinking water purposes.By 1990 a private firm, BombasDe Mecate S.A. (BOMESA), had startedmanufacturing a version of thepump. Production since that time hasincreased dramatically, and BOMESAnow manufactures over 150 pumpsper month. Another private manufacturer,Taller Lopez-Erlach (TLE),has a similar output, and there areCross-section ofrope pumpon a hand-dug wellPvc-pipe withrope and pistonGuide boxBOX 1: THE ROPE PUMPThe principal elements of the rope pump are a pulley wheel, a rope with pistons attached, a pipe that enters the well,and at the base of this pipe, a guidance device for the rope. As the crankshaft is turned the rope drags the pistons upthe pipe, trapping the water above them and ejecting it at the surface. The pump functions well at groundwater depthsof up to 50 meters.Due to the simple and sturdy design of the pump, maintenance needs are very limited and can easily be handled bythe community or local artisan. The rope itself is the most likely part to break down, and can either be easily andcheaply replaced locally or patched up without difficulty. Makeshift repairs do not significantly detract frompump performance.2
at least a dozen other small-scaleparticipants in the market.It is estimated that over 7,500pumps were sold and installed in Nicaraguain 1999, and that over half ofNicaragua’s rural population haveheard of the pump – a result apparentlydue to the extensive marketingthat the pump has received by themanufacturers. The marketing aswell as the receptive attitude of theNicaraguan government have beenimportant factors in the pump’s success.In the early 1990s the Nicaraguangovernment added the locally producedrope pump to the list of pumpsselected for use in the rural water sector,even though at that time the technologywas still under development.This is an example of the government’sattitude which facilitated the emergenceof the market for the rope pumpsdespite the fact that the other pumps,all imported, received support fromexternal agencies in all aspects of thedistribution and maintenance chains.SupplyBoth BOMESA and TLE manufacturea variety of pumps for communal andfamily use. TLE sells self-assembly kitsthat are put together and sold by localworkshops. Installation can be performedon request by either firm, buttends to be prohibitively expensive. Asa result, BOMESA provides an installationmanual and a short trainingcourse to customers. TLE, on the otherhand, maintains a network of installersthroughout the country whom theyrecommend to pump buyers. The buyerpays the installer directly.DemandDemand for the pumps comes fromthree sources: rural families, NGOsTHE HISTORY OFTHE ROPE PUMPIN NICARAGUAEarly 1980s: Belgian techniciandevelops a variation on the classicalrope pump design.1988: The government developspump for drinking water purposesand post-hurricane demandswells rapidly.1990: Bombas De Mecate S.A.(BOMESA) commences manufacturing,selling to low-incomerural families.1995: Private sector demand hasbeen augmented by interest fromENACAL and NGOs. IRC report onNicaraguan Rope Pump.1996-98: Technology TransferDivision created within BOMESA –produces transfer kit.1999: Production surpasses 7,500pumps a year. Ghanaian authoritiesand others investigate transferpossibilities.and donors, and government organizations.During the first couple of yearsof production, private clients made upthe majority of BOMESA’s customers,while subsequently demand fromdonors, NGOs and government hasexpanded rapidly. Private clients, however,remain a significant source of revenuefor both major manufacturers.AffordabilityOne of the keys to the rapid spreadof the rope pump in Nicaragua hasbeen its low cost allied to its reliabilityand low maintenance needs. A studyperformed for the WSP found that theannual maintenance cost of the ropepump never exceeded $10 (and in factwas less than $5 in all but one areasurveyed). By comparison, the annualmaintenance cost for pumps in India –predominantly India Mark IIs – rangedbetween $59 and $107.The upfront cost of the rope pumpis also significantly less than for Afridevor India Mark II pumps. The same studyfound that in Nicaragua India Mark IIpumps sold for $750 (with similarprices for Afridev pumps) while theequivalent rope pump sold for $110.The imported pumps are harder toinstall and maintain and rely on importedparts, whose delivery may be problematic.Therefore, in Nicaragua for wellsat a depth of less than 60 m, the ropepump has been preferred to eitherimported pump.In addition to its efficiency, lowcost and reliability, the rope pump’ssimple technology means that, givena rudimentary in-country manufacturingbase, it can be both produceddomestically and repaired locally,features which contribute greatlyto sustainability.The Rope Pumpin GhanaThe Government of Ghanalaunched the NationalCommunity Water and SanitationProgram in 1991 to accelerate accessof rural communities to sustainablewater and sanitation services. Theagency responsible – the CommunityWater and Sanitation Agency(CWSA) – works with the active participationof communities, NGOs andthe private sector. Communitiesreceive government assistance in3
Page 1: Water andSanitationProgramAn intern
Page 5 and 6: THE TRANSFERPROCESSThe transfer pro

The Rope Pump - The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

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