Spring water sources
From Akvopedia
Often, in rural areas, central water filters are installed at the source, which supply water to several houses. Generally these are unprotected, and at unattended hours even pigs bathe in the sole source of drinkable water. These are not extremely powerful and have slow flow rates and so are not suitable for water pipe or network systems. At those places, it is wiser to protect the spring well and set up a manual pump. This keeps the water clean, and can increase the water supply.
History and Social Context
EMAS is the acronym for Escuela Móvil de Agua y Saneamiento (Mobile School for Water and Sanitation), in Bolivia, whose director, Wolfgang Eloy Buchner, developed the EMAS pump in the 1990's. EMAS is not only the name of the mobile school for water and sanitation, but also a whole technical and social concept of water and sanitation which includes rain water harvesting, solar water heaters, windpower, hydraulic rams, water treatment, small tanks and sinks, a variety of hand and foot pumps, and ferrocement tanks. The aim of the technologies and systems is to achieve the necessary supply of drinkable water, and water for micro irrigation in rural and sub urban areas.
Suitable Conditions
The system is suitable for water sources at small springs. It can be adapted depending on the flow rate and size of the filter, the amount of water demanded, and other conditions.
Technical Specification
Operation
First you must clean the filter from any loose material (sticks, stones, garbage, etc) and dig out the mud so there is enough space. Then place one or more ferrocement tanks in the hole. The tanks have holes bores through which water flows in. Around the tank, build a filter of arranged large stones. This space is then filled with water and it serves as an additional reservoir. Then attach the guide pipe to the tank, into which the pump will later be placed.
On top of the large stones, place a layer of small stones, and then gravel. Then the surface must be flattened and a polyethylene film (nylon, oilcloth) arranged on it. On top of this, refill the hole with earth. The earth should be made wet so it becomes compact and stable. This earth must then be covered with another waterproof layer, such as cement.
The surface should be slightly sloped, to avoid stagnant waters. To prevent stones turning loose, spread an additional cement layer, mainly around the pump, so no infiltration fissures may appear. For an additional platform for the pump, an old tire may be used. Finally introduce the pump into the guide pipe.
If the spring is larger it can be protected by an arch. Instead of the ferro cement tank, build a cavern with stones or with bricks. Usually, an arched board is used, on which stones are arranged. With this mold, you move forward line by line along the board. When the stones of each segment have been arranged, a cement mortar is spread in the space between stones or bricks, to fix the arch or vault.
Maintenance
Manufacturing
It is very easy and cheap to build. It can be adapt to different water sources by altering the design slightly. Depending on the size and type of impounding its cost is approximately equal to that of buying 2 cement bags.
Cost
Country Experiences
Manuals
Spring catchment http://vimeo.com/8453983 spring catchment with long distance pumping http://vimeo.com/8454057
External links
- Protecting Springs, produced by [www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/cv/wedc/ WEDC, Loughborough University].
