[[Image:Rope_pump_icon.png|right]]
[[Image:RopePumpMozambique.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] on a borehole, made in a local workshop in Mozambique ]]
[[Image:Rope_pump_action_diagram.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]], An illustration of the pumping action of a rope pump]]
The Rope Pump is a highly efficient, modern and low cost pump and one of the few designs that can truly be operated and maintained totally at a village level. There are various modern developments of the ancient design but the basic design of all pumps is a continuous loop of rope with pistons (or plastic washers) attached to it, the rope passes up through a plastic pipe with only a small clearance, thus allowing the pistons to push the water up and out of the top of the pipe. Rope pumps have proven highly successful and there are hundreds of thousands of pumps in use world wide and used for anything from community and domestic water supply to irrigation and cattle watering. For wells down to 35 m, rope pumps are often five times cheaper and more sustainable than standard piston pumps. Rope pumps can be powered by hand, bicycle, motor, horse, or wind power.
==Construction, operations and maintenance==
[[Image:RopePumpZambiaRope_pump_action_diagram.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] used for irrigation in Zambia, An illustration of the pumping action of a rope pump]]
[[Image:Rope_pump.PNG|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump | Rope pump ]], (Victory model) on a hand-dug of 20 meters deep well, made in a local workshop in northern Ghana ]]
[[Image:RopePumpBicycle.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]], bicycle model, produced and used in Nicaragua]]
[[Image:RopePumpMotor.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Motorized rope pump]], powered by a diesel motor, used for irrigation. Pumping from a 25m well.]]
[[Image:RopePumpZambia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] used for irrigation in Zambia]]
[[Image:Rope pump cross section.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] Cross section diagram of a rope pump on a capped well]]
Because of its low cost, the pump is also popular for domestic use. A survey among 5,025 rural families in Nicaragua indicates that a rope pump increases income, even if used for domestic purposes only. Families with a pump earn US$ 220 per year more than families without a pump. In Nicaragua the pumps are now being produced commercially by 20 workshops.