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{{Language-box|english_link= Rope pump | french_link= Coming soon | spanish_link= Coming soon | hindi_link= Coming soon | malayalam_link= Coming soon | tamil_link= Coming soon | swahili_link=coming soon | korean_link= Coming soon | chinese_link=绳泵| indonesian_link= Coming soon | japanese_link= Coming soon }} [[Image:Rope_pump_icon.png|right|80px]]
[[Image:RopePumpMozambique.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] on a borehole, made in a local workshop in Mozambique ]]
The modern Rope Pump pump is a highly efficient, modern and low cost pump , it can be produced with local materials and one of the few designs that can be truly be operated and maintained totally at a village level. There are various modern developments of the ancient design but the The basic design of all pumps is has a wheel with a continuous loop of rope with pistons (or plastic washers) attached to it, that fit with a small clearance in the pump pipe. The low end of this pipe is at the bottom of the well. By turning the wheel the rope passes up through a plastic the PVC pump pipe with only a small clearance, thus allowing the pistons to push and pushes the water up and out of . At the top end of the pump pipe, the diameter increases and the water comes out via a Tee piece.
If produced and installed well, Rope pumps have proven highly successful prove to be sustainable and now there are hundreds of thousands 120,000 of these pumps in use world wide and used for anything from community communal and domestic water supply to , irrigation and cattle watering. For irrigation, it Modern models can be used as a simple surface water diversion pump. For from wells down to as deep as 35 mand compared to imported hand pumps, rope Rope pumps are often three to five times cheaper and . Good quality pumps can last for 20 years or more sustainable than standard piston pumpsas is proven in Nicaragua where the first improved models that were installed in 1990 are still working. Rope pumps can be powered by hand, bicycle, motor, horse, or wind power.
====Origins====
The almost intuitive design is known by many other names , including the paternoster (after the beaded prayer chain it resembles), Noria pump, liberation pump or ropechain-and-washer pump. It is a relatively recent development of but all have the ancient chain-and-washer same pumpprinciple. Evidence of the chain-and-washer this pump principle dates back as far as two thousand years, to feudal China <ref> Fraenkel, Peter, and Thake, Jeremy. ''Water Lifting Devices, A handbook for users and choosers, 3rd ed.'' UK, Rugby: Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd, 2006.</ref>. The earliest report of the design in the west is cited <ref> Olsen, J. P. ''Greek & Roman Mechanical Water-Lifting Devices: The History of a Technology''. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1984. </ref> as that illustrated by the Sienese early renaissance engineer, Tacolla, circa 1433 <ref> Tacolla, Mariano. ''De Ingeineis'', Liber Primus Leonis, Liber Secundis Draconis, Addenda. c. 1433, folio 80. </ref>, a copy of which is given in the figure to the right <ref>Weisbaden, Ludwig, ed. et al. ''Facsimile of De Ingeineis'', Liber Primus Leonis, Liber Secundis Draconis, Addenda [online]. Germany: Satz Und Druck, 1984. Available at: http://digital.library.cornell.edu/k/kmoddl/pdf/037_001.pdf [April 2009]</ref>. In the 1970 and 80s the basic design was developed by numerous individuals, the most prominent of which were Alberts <ref>Alberts, J. H. The rope-pump - an example of technology transfer. ''Waterlines'', January 2004, Vol. 22 (3), 22-25.</ref>, Haemhouts <ref>Sandiford, Peter, et al. The Nicaraguan Rope-pump. ''Waterlines'', January 1993, Vol. 11 (3).</ref> <ref> Lammerink, M.P. et al. ''EVALUATION REPORT NICARAGUAN EXPERIENCES WITH ROPE PUMP'' The Netherlands: IRC, 1995. Available at: http://www.ropepumps.org/English/IRC-1995-Evaluation.pdf</ref> and Lambert <ref>Lambert, R. A. ''How to build a rope-and-washer pump''. London: Intermediate Technology Design Group, 1990.</ref>. and Thorpe. They applied the simple design as a tool aimed at economic and social development. They took advantage of low cost and versatile modern plastics to produce the modern rope-pump design.[[Image:An illustration of the basic rope-pump design in the west circa 1433.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope Pump]] first illustrated in the west circa 1433 <ref>Weisbaden, Ludwig, ed. et al. Facsimile of De Ingeineis, Liber Primus Leonis, Liber Secundis Draconis, Addenda [online]. Germany: Satz Und Druck, 1984. Available at: http://digital.library.cornell.edu/k/kmoddl/pdf/037_001.pdf [April 2009]</ref>]]
Some 70,000 Rope pumps are now in use in Nicaragua, 10,000 in countries like Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Bolivia. 30,000 in African countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and 6000 in Cambodia and India. In total, the Rope pump is used in over 25 countries.
The Rope pump is most suitable for single families, but is also often used for communities up to 20 families (150 people).
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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! width="50%" style="background:#efefef;" | Advantages
! style="background:#ffdeadf0f8ff;" | Disadvantages
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| valign="top" | - Simple, no “black box” <br> - Easy to maintain <br>- Easy to train on production, maintenance- Can be made locally by workshops <br> - Significantly cheaper (up 5 to 5 8 times) cheaper than imported piston pumps. for the same depth <br> - If made wellRotating movement, one pump can supply up to 250 people as experiences no dynamic force like in Nicaragua, Ghana and other countries indicate. However, suggested use is for maximum of 20 families (100 people) piston pumps<br> - Easy to maintain. Pump parts in the wells plastic and concrete (no corrosion) <br> - Easy Rotating shaft, easy to train on maintenance. <br>- Can be made locally power by workshop. bicycle, animals, windmills, electric motors or combustion engines <br> - Ideal to be used by one or two families in a shallow well on their own yard. <br>- Can be used Fit for irrigation and , therefore used as income generation. <br>- Can be driven by handIf made well, windmillone pump can supply up to 250 people as is the experience in Nicaragua, motorTanzania, bicycleMalawi and other countries. However, animals. <br>suggested use is for maximum of 20 families (150 people) | valign="top" | - The rope pump It is simple which is easy good but also leads to copy, but bad copying (materials, construction) leads to resulting in early break down.and bad image <br>- Lack of Requires frequent maintenance and installation errorslike oiling the bushings, can lead if not leads to early wearing out or and breakage of pump partshandle <br>- A “blocking system” is needed on the handle to avoid return of the handle, if not the "spinning back" of the handle which can be dangerous, especially for children.<br>- It cannot pump higher than the pump outlet <br>- Compared to piston pumps the rope pumps Rope pump is semi-open at the top which in theory, can cause contamination of the well. (if well made this is hardly a problem in practice) <br> - The Rope pump splashes morethan piston pumps.<br>- Not suitable as a community pump for more communities larger than 20 families.<br>
|}
===Construction, operations and maintenance===[[Image:Rope_pump_action_diagram.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]], An illustration of the pumping action of a rope pump. However, this drawing needs adaptation. The pipe diameter at and above the Tee piece should be larger than the pump pipe. This is essential for good functioning of the pump. Now most of the water will come out at the top!]][[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. Photo: Netherlands Water Partnership. ]]
With different depthsdeeper wells, different sizes of smaller diameter pump pipes are needed, otherwise the pumping becomes to too heavy. See manuals on websites of [http://wwwpractica.practicafoundation.nl/libraryorg/manualspublications/ Practica Foundation] and , [http://www.connectinternational.nl/english/smartmodules/smart-tec/pumps/ropepumpproduction Connect International], and [http://www.ropepumps.org ropepumps.org].<br>
Many different types of rope pump exist, powered by hand, bicycle, wind, horse, [http://www.mawama.org/rope-pump/powered-rope-pump/solar-pv-powered-rope-pump solar] etc.
Similar to piston pumps, a cement slab and a good soak away are needed to avoid splash water becoming a cause for pollutionand recontamination of the water in the well.
====Design====
* Pumping depth (Lift): 0 to 30m 35 m * Cylinder diameter: 28 (pump pipe) 32 mm for 1 to 10 metres deep, 25 mm for 10 to 42 20 metres deep and 19 mm, depending on depthfor 20 to 35 metres deep* PistonPistons: Plastic Rubber or HD PE (plastic) pistons spaced at 1 m* Yield: (75 50 watt input, ) at 5 a 10 m head) ~ 4.5 the yield is 2 m³/hour . [http://www.mawama.org/rope-pump/rope-pump-efficiency Model equations can be found here] * Population/field area served: Max 150 people or irrigation of 0.25 1 hectare * Type of well: dug well or of 3 metres to boreholeof 6 to 20 cm diameter
The rope Rope pump can be produced with made in any country since the design can be adapted to the materials that are locally available . After due training it can be produced, by small or medium metal companies or blacksmiths that have a welding machine and standard materials hand tools. Although simple does not mean easy. It is essential to build the pump with 10 basic design rules. (See [http://www.ropepumps.org ropepumps.org] FAQs). In general, training is needed for good quality in production and local skills, such as an artisan workshopimportant, good installation.
The pump frame is welded from made of galvanized pipes or mild steel. The handle axle is a mild galvanized steel pipe with metal bushings (some design use there are also designs with ball bearings, either ball bearings or wooden bearings, other employ a steel bushingbushings). The pulley wheel is assembled by fitting made of the cut-off sides of a tyre used car tire and mounted with clamps and spokes on the handle. The wheel should have a rim, which generates a nice sharp 'v' shape which provides to get a good traction on the rope. The ropes are made of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, or Polyamide fibres fibers varying from Ø 4 to Ø 8 mm. Natural fibres fibers are not suitable, as they will lengthen stretch when wet, and degrade too fast. The pistons are made of the side of the siude of a used car tire or injection moulded plastic with no sealmolded HD polyethylene. The rising main are PVC pipes ranging from with wall thickness of 1.5 to 2 mm and diameters of 20-50mm diameter to 50 mm (depending on liftdepth of the water level). The guide box can be is made of concrete (with a ceramic insert (some designs use cast in piece or small glass bottlesbottle as turning point), galvanized pipe or made of wood with a pvc lining. The installation of the Rope pump is easy and does not need any lifting equipment or special tools. The pumps are generally installed in dug wells but also versions that fit into boreholes are availablePVC turning point.
====Maintenance====
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 the whole pump, be manufactured in any small town with only Because of the most basic welding machinelocal production, 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 handle. Although easy and simple to maintain it is important the user is instructed in why pistons and how to maintain and repair their pump. Evaluations show that rope pumps on communal wells can be maintained by weekly oiling of the users under certain conditionsbushings. On pumps shared amongst large groups one The installation and repairs of the main conditions is a very high level of community coherence and responsibility. If the rope pump technology is introduced properlypart does not require special tools, like often is the case with the Zimbabwe Elephant Rope and pump, up to 90% of rope pumps remain operational, even after many years. ====Motorized rope pumps====Most common diesel and petrol pumps pipes are suction pumps that can pump from shallow wells down to 7 m. deep. Pumping from deeper wells requires generator pump sets or long-shaft diesel pumps costing US$ 800 or more. Where there is electricity, submersible pumps can be used but many small farmers do not have electricityvery light so no need for any lifting equipment.
===Costs===* The Hand Rope Pump costs pumps cost between US$ 30-150 depending on model, location of production, and cost of materials and labour.
* Cost of introduction: between US$ 10,000-30,000 per project, including 20 pumps, engineering and hands-on training.
* Rural water programme: US$ 150,000-200,000 per project, including 1,000 pumps, start up of production facility and hands-on training.
===Field experiences===[[Image:RopePumpBicycle.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Pedal Rope pump]], bicycle model, produced and used in Nicaragua]][[Image:RopePumpMotor.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Motorized rope Motor Rope pump]], powered by a diesel motor, used for irrigation. Pumping from a 25m well. Photo: Netherlands Water Partnership.]][[Image:RopePumpZambia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Hand 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 Rope pump on with a complete wheel cover, 95% of the Rope pumps have a capped well]][[Image:RopePumpvietnamsmall wheel cover to reduce cost and make maintenance easier.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Also water quality of semi-covered Rope pump| pumps is the same as completely closed Rope pump]] used for rice paddy irrigation in Vietnampumps.]]
Because of its low cost, the pump is also popular for domestic use[[Self Supply|Self Supply]]. A survey among 5,025 rural families in Nicaragua indicates that a rope an Rope pump increases family income, even if used for domestic purposes only. Families with a pump on their well earn an average US$ 220 more per year more than families without who use a rope and a pumpbucket on their well. In Nicaragua the pumps are now being produced commercially by 20 some 10 workshops.
Different models of Rope pumps were introduced in Africa. This introduction has not always been successful: in one projects over as described above. In Ghana, 80% of the pumps did NOT not work after one year! and in Ethiopia, Uganda and Mozambique there were similar problems with pumps being installed for large communities. However, with the "right" models and , the "right" user trainingand willingness of users to pay for repairs, up to 90% remain in operation also in Africa, as the Victory pump model in Ghana and , the Elephant model in Zimbabwe have provedand the SHIPO Model in Tanzania and Malawi prove. In 2013, Rope pumps were used in over 30 countries. Below are the experiences in several countries.
===Manuals, videos and links=======Manuals====* RWSN Jan Nederstigt, Arjen van der Wal. [http://www.practica.org/wp-content/uploads/services/publications/Rope%20pump%20manuels/ropepump%20manual%20EN%20full.pdf Rope Pump: Low Cost Pump Series. TECHNICAL TRAINING HANDBOOK ON ROPE PUMP PRODUCTION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE]. Practica Foundation. August 2011 (20063rd edition) . French version: [http://www.rural-waterpractica.org/wp-supply.netcontent/enuploads/resourcesservices/detailspublications/339 Maintenance Card for Rope Pump%20pump%20manuels/ropepump%20manual%20FR%20full.pdf A POMPE A CORDE: Séries de la pompe à moindre coût.], Skat, Rural Water Supply Network, St Gallen, Switzerland
* Construction manual [http://www.youtubeconnectinternational.comnl/english/smartmodules/watch?v=06JoZlo77gk Small scale irrigation with a rope pump, Zambia]. [http:smart-tec/pumps/www.connectinternational.nl ropepumpproduction SHIPO Model, Connect International], The Netherlands. Small scale irrigation with a hand drilled borehole and rope pump in Mazambuka, Zambia. The farmer irrigates 400 m2 of tomatoes, and the pump supplies water to an additional 10 families.
* ERPF, K. (2006) [http://www.youtuberural-water-supply.comnet/watch?v=pvHtqsUIoDs Hand drilled borehole and rope pump in Tanzania]. [http:en/resources/details/www.connectinternational.nl Connect International338 Installation and Maintenance Manual for Rope Pumps], The Netherlands. Hand drilled borehole and rope pump in Tanzania. The borehole was drilled in 3 daysSkat, to a depth of 28 meters. Total cost of the boreholeRural Water Supply Network, including pump: 500 US$. Smart Tec Center ShipoSt Gallen, TanzaniaSwitzerland.
* ERPF, K. (2006) Manufacturing Guidelines for the Production of Rope Pumps in Mozambique. Skat, Rural Water Supply Network, St Gallen, Switzerland [http://www.youtuberural-water-supply.comnet/en/resources/details/watch?v=E1qIdvH1bvM Windmill powered rope pump in Nicaragua340 English]. S.J. Batchelor, 1999[http://www. An innovative lowrural-cost windmill for water pumping used in Nicaragua for small-scale irrigation, cattle watering and domestic usesupply. The design is based on a Dutch model developed by CWD consultancy wind energy developing countries. The windmill drives a rope pump, similar to the hand rope pump of which 70.000 are installed in Nicaragua. Of the wind rope pump, up to now, 400 have been installed, produced by the enterprise AMEC in Managuanet/en/resources/details/341 Portuguese].
* RANDRIANASOLO, A. and ERPF, K. (2004) [http://www.youtuberural-water-supply.comnet/en/resources/details/watch?v=9wWLuX8pmNA 337 Madagascar Rope Pump animationSpecification. First Edition 0 - 2004]. Resource Development International Cambodia, RDI. A short video animationSkat, Rural Water Supply Network, St Gallen, demonstrating a Rope PumpSwitzerland.
* RWSN (2006) [http://www.youtuberural-water-supply.comnet/watch?v=KTuqHEVo2TA&feature=channel_page Motorized rope pump on platform in Ethiopiaen/resources/details/339 Maintenance Card for Rope Pump]. Motor rope pump being used to fill overhead tank, Skat, Rural Water Supply Network, St Gallen, Switzerland.
====External links====
[[Image:RopePumpvietnam.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] used for rice paddy irrigation in Vietnam]][[Image:wind rope pump.jpg|thumb|right|200px|'''Wind Rope pump''' used in Nicaragua, produced by AMEC]] * [http://www.ropepumps.org/ www.ropepumps.org website](English and Spanish)* [http://www.ircropepump.nlcom/page/31886 Rope pumps: out-perform conventional handpumps on most counts in Ghana testropepump.com]. Article on IRC.(Spanish)* [http://www.ircircwash.nlorg/sites/default/pagefiles/15380 Rope Sutton-2009-Transferring.pdf Transferring the rope pumpto Africa: local production A long and installation capacity being developed in Senegalwinding road?]. Article on IRC.*[http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/implementationsustainable-groundwater-management/handpump-overview pumps Overview of community handpumps hand pumps at the RWSN website]
* [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/289 Low-cost pump alternatives for rural communities in Honduras (rope- and EMAS pumps), SKAT website]
* [http://www.pumpaid.org/The-Elephant-Pump.shtml Pump Aid works in Malawi and Zimbambwe with the Elephant pump, a kind of rope pump.]
* [http://www.wateraid.org/international/what_we_do/where_we_work/mozambique/2595.asp Rope Pump - WaterAid in Mozambique]
* [http://www.appropedia.org/Rope_pump Rope pump article at Appropedia]
* [[Solution_of_the_week_7|Akvo solution of the week 7]]
* [[Solution_of_the_week_9|Akvo solution of the week 9]]
* [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/307 'Low Cost HandpumpsHand pumps' RWSN Field Note 2011-3]* [http://www.rural-water-supplyropepump.net/en/implementation/handpump-overviewcom/rope-pumps-nicaragua RWSN: Rope Pumps (Nicaragua)]* [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/implementationresources/handpump-overviewdetails/rope-pump-madagascar RWSN: 337 Rope Pumps (Madagascar)]
* RWSN: The Rope Pump Concept [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/294 English], [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/296 French], [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/336 Portuguese]
===References===
<references/>
===Acknowledgements===
* [http://www.henkholtslag.nl henkholtslag.nl], [http://www.300in6.org 300in6.org], [http://www.connectinternational.nl connectinternational.nl]