Although commonly designed and utilized in an easy fashion, the hand pump is considered to be one of the most significant inventions that have ever occurred in the history of accessing water in the world. Despite the electric, solar and automated pumping technologies, which have been developed at a very rapid rate, hand pump is still used to support millions of people across the world, especially in regions where there is either lack of water resources or unreliability of the available resources. Its small size, low prices and ability to work without any electric power make it a priceless item in rural regions, prone to disasters regions and third world nations. Considering the causes that the hand pump still stays one of the most important parts of the whole system of the world water supply, it is possible to conclude that the low-technology solutions in the world of highly-technology work.
An engineering tradition of practice
The pumps that have been manufactured have been designed one way or another since the ancient civilization used the primitive pumps of piston and lever. Over the years, the technology has advanced to the standardized robust models, which are in existence today such as India Mark II, Afridev pump and Tara pump. The designs were also aimed at being used intensively on a daily basis in the countryside and semi urban areas and much of the works can be easily replaced and serviced locally.
The simplicity of the engineering of the hand pump is a niche. Most of them operate on a basic recapitulating piston mechanism, where a lever is pulled manually, which causes suction and pressure, which draw the water out of ground aquifers. This easy system can be trusted in but not in complex machines which are not reliable.
Restoring Communities devoid of Energy
This is among the biggest advantages of the hand pump since it is not dependent on any external energy. A hand pump does not require electricity, diesel pumps or even solar energy to run as compared to the other electrically powered pumps, diesel pumps or solar operated systems.
This makes it a necessary assistance in:
- Electricity-less villages.
- Remote agricultural land
- Disaster relief operation
- Areas that are affected due to fuel crises.
- Areas that have poor infrastructure that is not reliable.
Where power is frequently interrupted or where there is minimal help provided by the government, the hand pump provides a good and constant supply of water. It is tough in the sense that the residences can get access to clean drinking water regardless of externalities.
It is one of the Major Actors in the Developmental Processes in the World
.Having hand pumps in installations has become a typical method of clean water programs since the 1970s by international agencies such as UNICEF, the World Bank and most other NGOs. These can serve to build water access in underserved regions since the pumps are an affordable and scalable technology.
The impact is profound. When a single hand pump is installed in most parts of Africa and South Asia, this can transform a community by reducing the time that people spend in collecting water, which is considered the responsibility of the women and children and improving accessibility to clean and safe drinking water.
This often results in:
- Better health outcomes
- Enhanced school attendance
- Increasing economic performance.
- Risk of waterborne diseases is low.
There is also the support of agriculture through the assistance of the hand pumps in which the water pumps support the small-scale irrigation systems, livestock watering points, and community gardens. Their contribution in influencing the country and economic factors development is a good sign to their relevance in the global water strategies.
A very sustainable solution
Sustainability is one of the primary arguments why hand pumps can be still used in our time. they are so simple in their working that they bring about:
- Less environmentally-friendly, compared to fuel-powered pumps.
- Long life cycle and reduced cost of maintenance.
- Local procurement of spares.
- Fewer international supply chains.
Also, hand pumps encourage the responsible consumption of water. As the pump is manually set at low speed, there is limited wastage of water by the users and therefore this is one of the main factors of concern in places with a water shortage (drought), the hand pump is a feasible and cheaper option in terms of sustainability.
Plasticity of Modern Systems
Although hand pump is usually rural or developing, this is being increasingly popular in:
- Backyard gardens
- Remote construction sites
Emergency preparedness kits Emergency preparedness kits Emergency preparedness kits are the products that aid in the preparation of an impending emergency in a business, a house or a community.
- Off-grid cabins
- Community water reserves
The current designs comprise the use of corrosion resistant materials, new sealing mechanism and easy levers that are more efficient and durable. Models that are hybrid and have manual mechanisms with optional solar or electric components are even available, involving a combination of the proven reliability and the new convenience.
Hardships and the Path forward
Hand pumps are associated with their troubles, despite their merits. Common issues include:
- Lack of regular maintenance
- Water table fluctuations
- Deterioration of the parts internally.
- Absence of training of local repair experts.
However, the global development bodies are solving these problems through training programs and community based maintenance works and standardizing the pump models. The Hand pumps that are well maintained will serve a minimum of decades.
Conclusion
The hand pump has continued to stand the test of time as a pillar to the world water supply system since it holds the answer to one of the most fundamental human needs, that is, access to clean water and is simply designed, easily reliable and sustainable. Despite the fact that the present technology is expanding the water management limits, the hand pump has remained one of the pillars of water availability particularly to the population with the greatest demand. Its universal usefulness demonstrates that sometimes the most appropriate solutions to the problems are those that are not grounded on complexity, but rather on effectiveness and their power.
