The initiatives of many people and institutions have developed and promoted the rope

pump in Nicaragua over the last eight years. The initiatives include different concepts,
designs and approaches. Development has been primarily directed towards the drinking
water supply from handdug wells with depths from 5to 30 meters.
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The development and implementation of the pumps has been within the concepts of
appropriate technology:
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all implementation activity begins with a felt need by the beneficiaries; this also
influenced the pumps design;
to impact health, it is considered more important to guarantee large quantities of water
in a decentralized form than relatively small quantities in centralized wells, although this
can have a negative impact on water quality control;
selfsufficiency in materials and knowledge both at the national level and at the user
level when possible;
certain social control over the pump is necessary, but this is not considered a
limitation; rather it guarantees interest and care by the users;
village level operation and management (VLOM);
local production when possible; and at the least national production;
a transfer of technology both to the producer and to the user to guarantee a foundation
of technology in society and its continuous development, even without outside
intervention.
selfconstruction is considered a necessary phase in the pumps introduction for
initial development and assimilation into the community;
sales at both the artisan level and the semiindustrial level are responsible for the
majority of installed pumps;
institutional rural water supply and sanitation projects have developed and
implemented the pump in excavated and drilled wells with good results.
The rope pump is inexpensive, efficient and simple. It has a high efficiency rate and
pumps large quantities: from 2 liters per second at five meters to 0.3 liters per second at
40 meters. The pump is appropriate for intensive use: it can pump up to 32 barrels daily
(8 m3). But even more important than this data is the fact that the pump is easy to
construct, operate and maintain.

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One central characteristic of the rope pump is that it can be easily adapted to different
types of construction: in Nicaragua we know of pumps made only of wood and rubber
(materials cost: US$13) and of models using iron, injected polyethylene pieces andglazed
ceramic (total cost: US$45). In terms of water quality protection, there is a theoretical
possibility of contamination, but practical data thus far have demonstrated that
contamination is no greater than in wells equipped with other pumps.
The pump can be adapted to different conditions: there are special models for drilled
wells; to pump water above ground level (pump on a post) for large volumes (irrigation,
cattle watering); and with movements for a motor or a simple windmill. The last two
models are in the development phase, while the others can be used without any risk.

New research and development of the-pump are not being carried out in a structured
manner for lack of resources directed specifically to research, but it does take place in an
adhoc manner. Research is currently concentrated on drilled pumps and on the special
models already mentioned.
In addition to covering what has been mentioned above, the book details the design,
construction, installation and maintenance of the pump, taking into account all the known
options.