Abakus Pump
Abakus pump is a rope pump designed by Water Works. It is made from a bicycle wheel, PVC pipes, a bicycle tyre, a rope and metal casing. The idea is to use local materials and to put communities in charge of the projects, so that they construct the pumps themselves. So far, the Abakus pump has been very successful, however Water Works reported some problems associated with the operation of the pump. For example, it was observed that plastic ropes stretch too much, which causes too much slack and so pumps fail to work. Other suggestions include improving the design of the wheel to prevent the rope from falling off and constructing a shaft of a more durable material.
Abakus Pump Construction
All photographs are courtesy of Water Works.