Project of the Intecract Club Brignoles Raynouard

Water pumps (made of wood) for African peoples

The Club Interact[1] Brignoles Raynouard was born from the close partnership[2] between the Raynouard College and the Rotary Club of Brignoles (Var, France).

Interact Club is affiliated to the Rotary International. It was established for carrying out the project of development, manufacturing of prototypes, and installation in Africa of wooden water pumps.

The concept of the Wooden Water Pump, targets disinherited areas, without power supply. The pumps can be manufactured and maintained on the spot because it is simple in the concept and uses upon materials and tools available in many practically everywhere.

The project was used as a case study in the normal course of their studies. The concrete aspect of the pump and its humane implications has worked as a strong motivation on  a group of 12 pupils who, within very short times:

- seized themselves of the project suggested by the Rotary;

- supervised the production of two prototypes (financed by the Rotary);

- published handbooks of manufacture, assembly and implementation in three languages (French, English and Spanish); 

- made their work available on Internet.

They made the admiration of academic, administrative, political and economic authorities to which they presented their work and also made their parents and professors proud of their work.

In addition to the technical aspect, they developed a better knowledge of the question of water supply and its stakes.

The Interact Club now prepares with the Rotary Brignoles, for this summer the establishment in Burkina Faso of pumps and a workshop for the production of more units.

The estimate of the budget necessary to the operation is 25.000 € including, stay, the production travelling expenses of pumps, material for the workshop of production.

The current partnership must now open to other participants to gather the funds.

The Rotary of Brignoles, the Rotary District 1730, and of the Rotary Foundation will help in gathering founds.

The lack of drinking water is the cause of many diseases and makes daily live and social, schooling and economical activities very difficult.

The lack of hygiene and food causes terrible diseases like Noma.

The project brings a practical, effective and economical solution. After the launching of the project, the workshop is designed to be operated by local and autonomous persons.

It will allow the targeted populations finding in their natural environment, decent living conditions giving them a hope for further progress of their situation.

 1 m3 of with per day corresponds to the needs for 50 people.

Technical data :

Dimensions (H X L X L) : 

                - Pump 50x50x30 cm

                - System of surface 40x30x30 cm

                - Wind mill 2.5x2.6x2.6 m

                - Pale 2x1.4x0.7 m

Weight :

                - Pump 15 to 20 kg

                - System at ground level : approximately 7 kg

 Well :      - up to 30 m,

                - diameter 70 cm

Wind : 3m/s

Flow : 1 m3/ day

Materials : 

                - Wood: Iroko approximately 50L=50dm3      

     - 4 non-return valves and screw, nuts or pins

                - Tire truck (membrane)     

                - Fabric and concrete steel :

                5mm for the wind mill.

This article was written by Jean-Pierre Vanderstricht, our contact with te Rotary Club.

You can see more photos, videos, explications, ... on the french pages.