EMAS pedal pump
The EMAS pedal pump is a standard EMAS hand pump, combined with a mechanism that allows the pump to be operated by foot. In that way, more water can be pumped without the operated getting tired. The EMAS pedal pump can both be used for household drinking water and for irrigation. As the construction is very simple, a minimum of material is used, and the pump is very affordable.
EMAS pumps can generate pressure and can thus be used to pump water from a well to a water tank, located, for example, under the roof of a home. In that way, running water in the kitchen becomes possible. Another possibility is to pump the water horizontally over a distance, up to a maximum of 2km. Pumping straight from a well to a tank ensures that the water quality remains good, as no recontamination can take place.
The EMAS pedal pump was developed by Wolfgang Buchner, who runs the EMAS Mobile School for water and sanitation in Puerto Perez, Bolivia. The pedal pump was developed because of the wish to have a was to power the standard EMAS hand pump, of which tens of thousands exist in Bolivia, by foot. When operated by foot, water can be pumped for a much longer time without getting tired.
EMAS is not only the name of the mobile school for water and sanitation, but also a whole technical and social concept of water and sanitation which includes rain water harvesting, solar water heaters, windpower, hydraulic rams, water treatment, small tanks and sinks, a variety of hand and foot pumps, and ferrocement tanks.
Suitable conditions
| Advantages | Disadvantages/limitations |
|---|---|
| - Foot operated - Can create pressure |
- Only for family use
- not suitable to be used by larger groups |
Construction, operations and maintenance
The pedal mechanism is an addition to a standard EMAS hand pump. It consists of a wooden plank which can rotate on an axis fixed to a frame made of reinforcement steel bar. Beneath the plank, a piece of wood with a groove is fixed, which acts as a hinge. Because of this construction, wear of the wood is no problem. If the wood would completely wear out, a new piece can easily be fitted.
The movement of the plank is transferred to the pump handle by a steel bar made of reinforcement steel (10mm). Two door hinges at both ends of the bar ensure proper alignment. The top door hinge is welded to a cross piece made of galvenised steel tube cut in half. This part is easily attached to the handle by rubber strips cut from inner tube of a car (or truck) tire. To protect the rubber from the sunlight, a piece of cloth is wound around the rubber, held in place by a metal wire, or by splitting the end of the cloth and making a knot.
Costs
Field experiences
The EMAS pedal pump was developed in Bolivia, and is being field tested there.
