Changes

One of the main strengths of the rope Rope pump is that '''all''' maintenance is and repairs are relatively simple and can '''easily and genuinely be done at village level'''by local technicians. All spare parts can, like Because of the whole pumplocal production, be manufactured in any small town with only the most basic welding machine, other standard hand tools spares are available and a basic supply of standard items like PVC pipe, GS pipe and round barknowledge to do repairs. The most frequent repairs are simple and consist mainly of repairing replacing the rope or handleand pistons and weekly oiling of the bushings. The installation and repairs of the pump part does not require special tools, and pump pipes are very light so no need for any lifting equipment.  Although easy and simple to maintain , it is important the user is that users are instructed in why and how to maintain and repair their pump. Evaluations show that rope pumps (including Rope pumps) on communal wells can be maintained by the users under certain conditions. On pumps shared amongst large groups one of the main conditions is have a tendency to fail for reasons like a very high level lack of community coherence ownership and problems with generating funds for repairs and responsibilityreplacements. See example of Ghana, below. If the rope pump technology is introduced Rope pumps are produced and installed properly, like often is (and if the case with the Zimbabwe Elephant Rope pumpusers have ownership), up to 90% of rope Rope pumps remain operational, even after many yearsas is proven by pumps in Nicaragua, Zimbabwe Tanzania, Malawi and other countries. Compared to piston pumps the repairs of Rope pumps is simpler and cheaper, plus because of local production, spares are available.