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TitleA study on functioning and use of handpumps in Palakkad District in Kerala, India
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication1997
AuthorsS. Sethu, K
Secondary TitleM.Sc. Thesis S.E.E. / IHE
Volumeno. 008
Paginationxi, 102 p. : fig., 2 maps, tab.
Date Published1997-03-25
PublisherIHE (International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering)
Place PublishedDelft, The Netherlands
Keywordsevaluation, hand pumps, india kerala, india mark ii pumps, literature reviews, recommendations, rural areas, sdiasi, sdiwat
Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of handpumps with regard to functioning and use and to suggest solutions to improve the existing situation. Three Panchayats, one in hilly terrain, one from a lowland area with a perennial water source, and one from a water scarce lowland area were selected for the study. Twenty handpumps scattered in six wards of these three Panchayats were studied. The study showed that nineteen of the twenty handpumps were functioning, but only half of them met the discharge standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It was found that around twenty-five per cent of the pumps had unacceptable levels of leakage. Also a high breakdown frequency of once every six months in these systems was noted. Nine of the twenty pumps were not used for drinking or cooking as a result of bad taste due to the excess concentration of iron in the water. Among the recommendations arising from the study were: i. that groundwater quality investigations should become part and parcel of all handpump programmes; ii. alterations should be made to the existing India Mark II pumps to facilitate village level operation and maintenance, and iii. to explore the possibility of surface water as an alternative source of water supply where groundwater quality is unacceptable.

Notes39 ref.
Custom 1232.2, 822

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