Counterpoise lift

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A shadoof in Egypt. Photo:Egypt.KomOmbo.Shaduf
A counterpoise lift. Drawing: FAO.
A shadoof in Eastern Romania. Photo: Shaduf-romania.

Also known as shadoof, shaduf, dhenkli or picottach, the counterpoise lift consists of a long wooden pole and is generally used for lifting water from unlined wells, streams or ponds and for irrigating small fields. A weight, often a large stone or a ball of dried mud or a basket filled with small stones is fixed at the shorter end of the pole to counterpoise the weight of a filled bucket which is attached to the longer arm of the pole with a rope. The bucket is emptied by a sideways tipping motion. This device is used to lift water up to a height of 1 - 3 metres. About 2000 litres of water can be lifted from the depth of 2 to 3 metres in one hour.

Don is also a similar type of device which is used in west Bengal and neighbouring areas to lift water up to a height of 1.2 meters. It consists of a boat shaped trough, closed at one end and open at the other, made of wood or galvanized iron sheets. The trough oscillates on a fixed centre and its closed end is alternately dipped into water and raised. The water flows into the field channel through the open end of the trough.


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