How to Build a Water Hand Pump: 11 Steps
A water hand pump is an essential tool for accessing groundwater in rural areas or during emergencies when electricity is unavailable. Building your own water hand pump can be a cost-effective and rewarding experience. Here are 11 steps to guide you in building a water hand pump.
1. Gather materials: Collect all necessary materials, including PVC pipes, a check valve, ball valves, an elbow fitting, a vertical pipe support, connectors, seals, stainless steel rod strings, and a handle.
2. Determine the size of the well: Measure the depth of your well to determine the right length of PVC pipe needed for collecting water.
3. Cut PVC pipes: According to the well’s depth, cut PVC pipes into appropriate lengths to reach the groundwater source.
4. Assemble the main pipe: Connect the cut PVC pipes with connectors and seals, ensuring a watertight fit. Attach an elbow fitting at the top to facilitate pumping motion.
5. Install the check valve: Place the check valve on one end of the main pipe. This valve prevents water from flowing back into the well and ensures proper suction.
6. Attach ball valves: Place ball valves at each connection point between pipes to ensure efficient water flow during pumping.
7. Construct vertical support: Build a vertical support structure from wood or metal to hold up the main pipe securely above ground level.
8. Install stainless steel rods: Connect stainless steel rod strings inside the mainpipe for pushing and pulling during pumping action.
9. Assemble the handle: Attach the handle to one end of the steel rod string and secure it firmly with screws or bolts.
10. Animate hand pump mechanism: Attach lifting rods or couplings between rod strings and pump handle so that it moves up-and-down seamlessly with each stroke, extracting and transferring water from below ground level to the surface.
11. Test your hand pump: Perform multiple strokes to test the efficiency of your pump. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure proper water flow and smooth operation.
Congratulations! You have now built your very own water hand pump. This invaluable tool will help you access clean water when traditional methods are unavailable or during emergencies. Maintain your pump regularly and enjoy sustained access to essential groundwater resources.