Rope pump

For wells down to 35 m, rope pumps are often 5 times cheaper and more Rotating movement (constant force 5-10 Kg.m) sustainable than piston pumps. Evaluations show that rope pumps on communal wells are being maintained by the users, if introduced properly. 90% Of rope pumps remain operational, even after many years. Continous water flow Because of its low cost, the pump is also popular for domestic use. (1-2 m/s) A survey among 5,025 rural families in Nicaragua indicates that a Schematic PVC pump tubes drawing of a rope pump increases income, even if used for domestic purposes (5-10 Kg) rope pump only. Families with a pump earn US$ 220 per year more than Low pressure in all parts families without a pump. In Nicaragua the pumps are now being (0, Kg/cm) produced commercially by 20 workshops. Few, non-corroDifferent models of Rope pumps were introduced in Africa.This sive pump parts introduction has not always been successful: in some projects over 80% of the pumps do NOT work! However, with the "right" models and the "right" user training, also 90 % remain in operation in Africa, as the Victory model in Ghana and the Elephant model in Zimbabwe have proved.

Rope pump , (Victory model) on a hand-dug of 20 meters deep well, made in a local workshop in northern Ghana (for credits, click the picture)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Significantly cheaper than piston pumps. Easy to maintain. Easy to train on maintenance.	Not all introduction programs have been successful.

Capacity

40 litres / min from 10 meters depth.

Costs

• US$ 20-120 depending on model.

Applying conditions

• Numbers: 50,000 in Nicaragua, 20,000 in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanaznia, Senegal.
• Yield: 40 litres/min from 10 m depth.
• Range of depth: 1-35 meter (60 m with two cranks).
• Application Communal wells, houshold, irrigation.
• Initial cost: US$ 20-120 depending on model.
• Cost of introduction: US$ 10,000-20,000 per project, including 20 pumps, engineering and hands-on training. US$ 60,000-100,000 per project, including 1,000 pumps, production workshop and hands-on training.

External links

• Evaluations www.irc.nl
• Africa www.pumpaid.org
• General info www.ropepump.com
• How to build www.ropepumps.org