Existing Solutions

Human Powered Pumps, Sustainability, Standardization

technical

Policy

From the earliest days of the rural water supply in Guinea, the authorities decided to standardise the manual pumps (by limiting the number of suppliers to 2), to give each supplier a geographical area and to favour the manual pump solution for villages of fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. In addition, each supplier was strongly encouraged to establish an after-sales service network, including available spare parts as close as possible to the users, and training of local repairmen for maintenance, throughout the territory concerned.

The establishment of this water policy, offering a long-term perspective, enabled the private sector to commit itself to making reliable products, and to establishing after-sales service networks, which are necessary for long-term operation of the equipment. There is now a very high operating rate of manual pumps, exceeding 85%, with an average age of the equipment of over 15 years.

Republic of Guinea

The project was initiated in 1978 by the “Well Brigades”, which became the National Service for Water Points (SNAPE) two years laters who is the main stakeholders’ driver with the two manufacter of human power pump choosen.

A strong political will was the basis of the SNAPE policy which can be sumed up by :

- selection of two reliable brands (and not generic type to ensure regular quality) of pumps with low maintenance costs, and direct discussions with manufacturers in order to bring them to commit themselves on after sales services.

- geographical concentration of the pumps.

- All communities with fewer than 2000 inhabitants should receive a human powered pump as water supply equipment.

Since the 80s this national policy, sometimes criticised, has always been followed-up and defended with persistence by the SNAPE managers.

operating rate of manual pumps, exceeding 85%, with an average age of the equipment of over 15 years.

Lifetime for this kind of equiment was initialy defined as 10 years. With a regular maintenance – affordable by the users – this lifetime has been extended, securing the delivery of safe water.

How can we manage an overall improvement of water supply in rural areas ?

How Governments and Donors can regain confidence in reinvesting in the rural sector in Africa?

Improvement of operating rate

Low maintenance cost

Rural water supply coverage improvement : what has been done 10 years ago is not te done again, contributing for a better access to safe water, developing the local economy and creating employment around the water point in villages.

main indicators :

- operating rates of equipment.

- lifetime of equipment.

- average annual costs for maintenance of equipement.

The solution described should improved significantly these 3 indicators.

The best of political actions: give a vision to the private sector, adequacy offer – financial capacities of the users, standardisation, work with manufacturers rather than intermediaries

 The best of technical actions: VLOM, adequacy equipment – context, secure the water resource

The best of management actions: involve the manufacturers, entrust maintenance to their local partners before undertaking the work.

 The best of economic actions: prefer long-term low maintenance cost to low investment cost,  exemption rules,  assess the economic impact of rural exodus

SNAPE has invented and implemented this solution for 30 years with the two following manfucaturers :

1) Pumpenboesen (Germany)

2) Vergnet Hydro (France)

Thierry BARBOTTE, Managing Director, t.barbotte@vergnet.fr, +33.(0).238.227.510

Etienne DECHERF, Business Manager, e.decherf@vergnet.fr, +33.(0).238.227.510

Christophe LEGER, Technical and Development Manager, c.leger@vergnet.fr, +33.(0).238.227.510

In attachment is an abstract of a survey conducted in the Fouta Djallon area of Guinea – This aera is mainly equiped with VERGNET pumps, as per SNAPE policy. This survey describes the operating rate of the pump.

Second attachment is a survey conducted in Chad, where standardization process is not regional but still related with high quality brands of pumps, and aims to estimate the average annual costs for maintenance for Vergnet pumps (around 15 500 FCFA per year and per pumps)