HUMAN-POWERED
HANDPUMPS FOR WATER
LIFTING
Introduction
This technical brief outlines the main types of hand
pumps currently used for domestic and community
water supply. The purpose of this Technical Brief is to
provide basic features of each and suggest their
potential use. A separate technical brief is available
discussing human and animal powered water lifting
for irrigation.
Hand pumps are capable of lifting relatively small
amounts of water from depths of up to 100 metres.
They are widely used in places where access to other
potential water pumping power sources is constrained;
where financial resources available for investment,
operation and maintenance are limited; and where
there is a relatively limited domestic water
requirement. Hand pumps are relatively easy to install
and simple to operate making them one of the most
commonly used water-lifting technologies.
This technical brief provides guidance on the key
criteria that needs to be taken into account when
selecting a hand pump and discusses the applicability
of different types to specific local conditions.
Selection criteria for human powered water lifters
Table 1 provides a summary of the technical,
financial, economic, institutional and social questions
that need to be answered when selecting a hand
pump for domestic or communal water supply.
Figure 1: Water pumping in Sudan.
Photo: Guy Whitmore / Practical Action
Sudan.
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