Chapin

Even though it has not rained for four months the gardens at Mtendere Children's Village in Lumbadzi, Malawi prosper thanks to drip irrigation systems from Chapin Watermatics in upstate New York. Photo: malawi project director.

Chapin bucket kits were developed by Richard Chapin of Chapin Living Water Foundation. This drip irrigation system consists of a 20-litre bucket mounted 1 m above the ground and 30 m of drip tape.

Construction, operations and maintenance

System components

• 20-litre bucket
• Timber and nail for bucket stand
• 2 pieces x 15 m drip tape
• 2 pieces x 1.5 m supply tubing
• Filter screen
• Washer
• 2 barb fittings
• Male adapter / Female adapter

1. Prepare the field to be irrigated. 2. Mount a 20 or 30-litre bucket (supplied by the farmer) with a -inch hole cut at the bottom 1 m above the ground. 3. Assemble the outlet from the bottom of the bucket by connecting the male adapter, rubber washer and female adapter. 4. Install the filter screen at the bottom of the bucket. 5. Install the two supply tubes running from the filter to the barb fittings. 6. Connect the 15-m drip irrigation tape through the drip lock fittings.

Reference manuals, videos, links

• Bucket Kit Gardening.