Kenya

Over time many requests were received from organizations in Kenya on the rope pump technology. The first steps towards development and introduction probably started in the eighties already. The following information is made available by the Christian Community Services in the ACK Eldoret Region.
Quote: "As part of the Water Supply and Sanitation project (WATSAN) rural communities are digging hand dug wells in their homesteads. The wells are then lined inside and covered with a concrete slab to prevent dirt entering the well. It is amazing to see what determination a community have to find clean water- imagine going 25 metres or more down below ground in an 80cm diameter hole, digging by hand! Challenging indeed, but the result is a clean source of water close to the home. In one community, at Matharu, south east of Eldoret, 60 wells have been dug and lined in this way.
The next concern was how to get the water out of the wells, which were between 15 to 25 metres deep."


Rope and washer pump in Matharu, Kenya

Using previous experiences plus ideas from various sources a rope and washer pump was made in 1998 and tested on the WATSAN project office well. With more information from the successful rope pump project in Nicaragua further modifications were made.
This development has continued and technical improvements were incorporated over time.
The use of moulded washers (pistons) was incorporated, a new component important for the deeper (40 metre) wells.
A local artisan was trained in 1998 how to fabricate the pump. These experiences were subsequently passed through by training more than 30 artisans in the last 3 years from other areas of Kenya and Tanzania.
Although no exact production figures are available, several hundreds are installed already. Depths up to 40 metres are reached while the step to moulded pistons is made already (this improves efficiency, durability and allows to reach grater depths.)

For further information
Stephen Burgess
ACK Eldoret Region,
Christian Community Services
E-mail: sandcburgess@multitechweb.com or elreco@africaonline.co.ke
Tel 053 62784 office

In 2003 rope pump production was taken on by the private enterprise ROPE ENGINEERING in NAIROBI - KENYA.

<<ROPE ENGINEERING >>

On this page "Adventures with the ROPE and WASHER Pump" published by the Christian Community Services can be found. This page takes roughly 400Kb

<<Adventures with the ROPE and WASHER Pump >>

Publication

An interesting publication on the rope pump developed in Eldoret through the Anglican Church was made available. This development and presented results have many similarities with earlier development of the rope pump in Nicaragua. Impact of the rope and washer pump in a water and sanitation project, Rift Valley Province, Kenya.