Hand-pump Maintenance: In the context of community well projects - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0903031701 ISBN 13: 9780903031707

Publisher: ITDG Publishing, 1985

Synopsis

A guide to the technical and social problems involved in community well projects, with an extension and evaluation of the different types of hand pumps available.

Many governments, with the assistance of official agencies and voluntary

organisations, have tackled the water supply problems of rural communities

by drilling tubewells and boreholes. Unfortunately, a vast number

of the tubewells are useless in practice because thousands of the hand

pumps have broken down. Why should this be so? This manual suggests

that one of the major reasons for the breakdown is that the community

or the village have not been adequately involved in the project in the

first place, and have not accepted the social responsibility for the task

of maintaining the pump.

Of course many of the pumps themselves suffer from design faults

and construction defects, but the hardware can fairly readily be repaired

and design faults can be corrected. However, "an effective pump system is not simply a technological object but a conglomerate of technology,

institutions and people" (WHO).

This volume puts forward various strategies which, if followed, might

overcome the social problems. It also examines and evaluates different

types of pump, and puts forward a schedule of recommended work that

should be undertaken by the community or the villager responsible for

the pump.

The book is a valuable contribution which should be read by all

involved in development work, and particularly by those concerned

with rural water supplies.

Arnold Pacey is a freelance writer on technology. He was a lecturer

in the history of technology at the University of Manchester Institute

of Science and Technology from 1964 to 1972. From 1973 to 1976

he was with Oxfam GB. He was connected with Intermediate Technology

Development Group since 1969, and, as a member of their Water

Panel, edited Water for the Thousand Millions, the panel's paper

for the 1977 United Nations Water Conference. He is also the author of

The Maze of Ingenuity: Ideas and Idealism in the Technology of

Development (Allen Lane).

About this title

About the Author

Arnold Pacey was lecturer at the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology, 1963-72; editor for Oxfam, 1973-74; Associate Lecturer at the Open University, Yorkshire Region, Leeds, 1976-2000; and retired in 2001.

Edition details

• Publisher: ITDG Publishing
• Publication date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0903031701
• ISBN 13: 9780903031707
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 44
• Editor: Pacey Arnold