Introduction of Rope Pump in Philippines

In general water supply is often arranged through communal water supply. However the quality of projects implemented are gravely affected by the corruption within the government. Contractors and sub contractors are out for easy profits which hinders quality work. In many cases local politicians concentrate on cheap Chinese handpumps in order to collect votes during election campaigns. These pumps, which are meant for private used, are installed in communal settings and therefore show many technical defects. There are still many areas where unsafe water supplies are serving the people and in many instances the water is far from the homes or farms. Since the Philippines has stil an abundance of water (because of its long raining season) it is rather a technical and political problem than a problem of water scarcity. AIDFI wants to promote and demonstrate different kinds of technology options for governments, NGO's, cooperatives or individuals to choose from.

Current status

AIDFI is manufacturing and installing technologies for basic services and water is a main part of this program. Eventhough most of the work goes to the hydraulic ram pump, it also produces the Bush pump, two kinds of treadle pumps and the hand rope pump. Different pumps for different applications. Since there is a real interest towards the rope pump from visitors to our techno park, we had to produce and install a few rope pumps. Within the technical department there is also a R&D section and for quite some time the idea has floated to come up with other forms to drive the rope pump. Since the program of this department is running on self reliance (for the past 9 years), there has been no (financial) opportunity earlier to finally push for the ideas. Hopefully with the approval of this proposal the assortment of the AIDFI water technologies will be augmented with two new kinds of rope pumps (wind and bicycle operated).

The goal is to come up with an assortment of Rope Pumps driven by different forces: hand, wind and bicycle. Of each model AIDFI will produce a pilot unit according to already developed and proven designs available and will install these in its techno park which is visited by a few thousand people a year. Also pilot sites outside the park will be set up for promotion.

Goals

• 2 Newly acquired rope pump models (wind and bicycle)
• More options for water pumping for clients to choose
• Additional attractions in the techno park
• Pilot units will supply communities or farms with water

AIDFI has already shown that the technologies are being sustained on different levels:
- Program level: the projects which AIDFI implements are partly income generating for the Foundation. In this way expenses related to overhead and management come from the project fund. AIDFI doesn't have to look for big foreign funds to sustain its operation. The finances for the water projects AIDFI is implementing come from the Local Government Units, NGO's or coops themselves with AIDFI being the technical provider.
- Project level: in every project AIDFI trains at least two local technicians in Operation and Management. It provides also tools as part of the project. On the other hand a Community Development Organizer prepares the project socially for its implementation and operation. Mostly water associations are formed and a collection system set up.

Once AIDFI has acquired the new rope pump models, these will be added to its program and the clients will pay for the pump and the installation (including boreholes or shallow wells).