Rope pump
The rope pump (rope and washer pump) is a household level pump for drinking water and small scale productive use in areas with water tables up to 35m.
The context
In many of the rural areas in Africa drinking water is pumped from wells by hand pumps. The piston pump is the most common type used but maintenance is often poor, mainly due to the high cost of (imported) spare parts and limited local expertise. As a result, many pumps remain un-repaired and are out of order.
The rope pump is a pump that can be produced locally and so forms a much cheaper alternative for imported piston pumps. Households can purchase the pump for (extended) family use. When broken, the rope pump is easier and cheaper to repair than a piston pump and the users do the maintenance and regular repairs themselves.
The technology
The rope pump design is based on the ancient chain and washer system and consists of an endless rope with pistons that fit into a PVC pump tube. At the bottom, the rope with pistons is guided into the pump tube. With a wheel the rope is lifted and water elevated to the surface. Unlike the piston pump, the rope pump can be produced with locally available standard materials and local skills. It is simpler to repair, has light and non corrosive parts and is cheaper to produce. Disadvantages are that most rope pump models are not completely sealed, and especially in deep wells it takes some time before the water arrives. Also, the rope pump is not suitable for lifting water to elevated reservoirs.
The underground part of the rope pump is basically the same for all models. For the upper part, different structures can be distinguished, based on locally available materials and local standards.
The application
Rope pumps are used on household wells up to 35m deep. Standard models can be used by extended families up to 10 households for household water and small scale productive use. Rope pumps are suitable for open dug wells and (manually) drilled wells with a pipe diameter of minimum 10cm.
The facts
| Pumping depth | up to 35m |
| Yield | 30 litres per minute at 10m 20 litres per minute at 20m 10 litres per minute at 30m |
| Costs | 70 – 150 Euro, depending on depth, local material and labour costs |
| Numbers | over 75.000 rope pumps installed world wide |
Training and introduction
PRACTICA assists local manufacturers with starting up production. We can provide a full set of workshop drawings, a production manual, installation and maintenance manuals and extensive training on the job.
