The
pump division of Aakash International has introduced new and
improved Afridev hand pump for export. The company’s export branch also
ensures that the new and improved
Afridev
pump can be made available though out African region. Our experience has shown
that the failure of water-supply projects lies not so much in the
implementation of these products, but in the subsequent maintenance of
these water systems. Systems fail because maintenance needs cannot be met. The
choice of technology often requires a highly- skilled maintenance team.
However, as a result of financial constraints and lack of resources, the high
costs of this type of maintenance are often not sustainable. What is
needed is a technology that matches the resources to sustain it. Water-supply
technologies that are designed around the Village Level Operation &
Maintenance (Vlom) concept have the highest potential for sustainability. For
many communities in Africa, hand pumps such as Afridev, India MKII and III and
the Zimbabwean Bush pump are often the only source of potable water supply.
The
success of our hand pumps in remote and inaccessible parts of Africa is mainly
attributed to the Vlom characteristics of these pumps. Aakash
International manufactured afridev hand pumps are easy to operate and
do not require a highly-skilled maintenance team to carry out routine repairs
and maintenance. Aakash International produced hand pumps are also
easy to install as heavy equipment and specialized tools are not
required. The rising main of the Afridev hand pump is a belled uPVC column
that is easily installed using two or three people. No tripod is required and,
with the help of the guiding rope, the columns are installed without much
fuss. The connecting hook and eye rods fit into each other and no spanner
is required. Once the uPVC columns have been installed, it is no longer
necessary to remove the columns when doing future maintenance. The cylinder
has an open top through which the plunger rod is easily removed, allowing
the hand pump technician to change the necessary seals. Aakash
International hand pumps have extensive countrywide
and international distribution network, which ensures that spares are
readily available, thus ensuring the continued sustainability of the
product.
