Hydraulic Ram Pumps for Colombia - phase 1

In Colombia, there is a hugehuge potential for Hydraulic Rams, because there are around 3 million displaced farmers who are coming back to their farms or new areas but who don’t have water/energy infrastructure for living and for food production. A second group is the traditional Indian groups, farmers and cattle owners in the Plains who need water during the dry season (December – May).

Goals overview

The goal is to help millions of displaced farmers who are returning to their land and need water for their farms, by giving them access to affordable hydraulic ram water pumps, a water pump powered by the falling water in streams. To do so, the goal of the project is to establish self-sustaining hydraulic ram pump manufacture and installation capacity in Colombia, through a technology transfer programme with experts from the Philippines, and the installation of 2 pumps as pilot models. The first phase of the project comprises a feasibility study plus site selection, and the installation of the pilot pumps, serving 1200 people with water.

Current status

The Hydraulic Ram design developed by AIDFI over the last decade has received interest from over 25 countries, and has one two international awards: the Ashden Award and the BBC World Challenge. The requests for surveys and installations can hardly be managed anymore by AIDFI, and transferring the technology to organizations in other countries is the main strategy to cope with this interest. In 2008, a full technology transfer was done to Afghanistan, which led to the establishment of a hydraulic ram company in the Takhar province in Northern Afghanistan, which now produce and install the pump locally. We aim to duplicate the same technology transfer method to Colombia.

Project plan

The first phase of the project will comprise a feasibility study and site visit in Colombia by an expert from AIDFI (Philippines), to identify suitable sites to install the first pilot pumps. Two ram pumps will then be installed, serving 1200 people with access to water for drinking, sanitation and hygiene and production of crops and livestock. An important of the installation is the training of the local beneficiaries in operating, maintaining and repairing the ram systems. The selection of two-three ram technicians in every project is vital for the sustainability of the systems.

In the second phase of the project, for which separate funding will be sought, two technicians from Aprotec, Colombia will travel to the Philippines, and receive a 6-week hands-on training course on all aspects of the manufacture, installation, maintenance, of the pumps.

Thirdly, a licensing/franchising process will be started, in which all the processes and information regarding running a succesful pump manufacture organization, such as design drawings, training manuals, and community involvment programmes, are transferred to Aprotec in Colombia.

Finally, during the start-up of the production of ram pumps in Colombia, follow-up monitoring, trouble shooting and impact assessment will be undertaken by AIDFI, through email.

We aim to duplicate the same successful technology transfer method to transfer the technology to Colombia. In due course, the technology will also be transferred to other countries which have shown interest, such as Nepal, Timor and many others. The Afghan experience has shown that it is very important to transfer the technology in a thorough way, in which the 6-week training course is a main component.

The Colombian NGO Aprotec has been in different appropriate technologies for many years: hydro power, windpower, biomass, water pumps and solar. Head Engineer Mauricio Gnecco has been there since the 1970’s. They have a well equipped shop in which they will be able to fabricate the hydraulic ram pump. They also have good technical connections in the region. The group is very excited in acquiring the technology and has already identified areas were the ram model of AIDFI can be piloted.

Engineer Mauricio Gnecco, who has worked with appropriate technologies for a long time through Aprotec, has studied the potential of the ram pump during the past 15 years. Aprotec has identified many places to install ram pumps. Aprotec is convinced of the AIDFI model of the ram and is interested in getting the technology (including manufacturing) transferred.

From 1945 – 1980 hundreds of ram pumps have been fabricated and installed by the big coffee farmers in Colombia. The ram pumps were of the old over- dimensioned model of heavy cast iron and brass valves. A foundry shop in Armenia (a city in the coffee region) fabricated them but ceased operation ten years ago. Many ram pumps stopped operation or were pulled out because of the availability of cheap electricity and electric pumps. Some of these rams have been rescued and are for sale right now. The old models available are more complicated in operation, repair and maintenance than the ones from AIDFI, and are more expensive.

With high prices of fuel, electricity and the awareness of Climate Change there is a huge potential for the re-introduction of the hydraulic ram pump. The pumps from AIDFI are also more efficient and can deliver more water to higher elevations.

Expected outcomes

• phase 1 - Feasibility study and site selection
• phase 1 - Two pilot ram pump installations

The project has sustainability of the pump manufacturing and installation capacity in Colombia as its main goal. Technicians from Aprotec in Colombia will receive a full six week training in all aspects of pump manufacture, installations, maintenance, sales, etc. They will also receive the full specifications and licenses for the local production of the hydraulic ram in Colombia. This is aimed at the establishment of a self-sustaining business in which hydraulic ram pumps are produced and installed in Colombia.

Knowing that a perfect technology alone will not guarantee a sustainable system, AIDFI developed a community involvement program in different aspects of the projects: surveys, meetings, hauling, actual construction, set up of water committees and training of local technicians in operation, repair and maintenance.