10
edits
Changes
m
update by the designer of the BluePump Paul van Beers
This pump has a good “Community Management Potential”. Simple tools are needed to pull out the pumping element, including pump rod and foot valve. The seal-less piston means that no regular replacement of worn rubber seals is required.
====AfripumpBluePump====[[Image:afripump tools.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Afripump tools needed to install and maintain it. Photo: [http://www.handpump.org/afri_pump/index.htm Handpump.org]]]
Installation of the Afripump BluePump is easy and can be done by one technical person and one assistant. The Afripump BluePump comes standard with strong 70/80 m PVC rising mains and 9 mm 12mm full threaded stainless steel rods with threaded connections (Volanta technology). For the installations, no special tools or tripod is required, only keys nr 24 and 17 are needed to complete the installation. When the concrete base and drainage platform is ready, the metal stand is fixed on 4 6 anchor bolts and the pipes are glued and lowered into the borehole casing up to the desired depth. The handle is fitted to the base with 4 M16 bolts. The cilinder is lowered with the rods and the last rod is attached to the handle. The cover is put on and the pump is ready to use.
Based on the experience with of BluePumps over the Volanta handpumplast 5 years, the maintenance of the Afripump is limited to cleaning of the pump and platform, checking and occasionally tightening of some nuts & bolts, maybe applying paint from time to time, all other parts are maintenance free.
The Afripump is also 100 % BluePump can be considered as a VLOM pump(Village Level Operated & Maintained) because most of the few simple activities can be done by a local caretaker with an Area Mechanic local available materials and require no special tools, equipment or training.
===Costs===