Community Management Potential of the India Mark III hand pump

The India Mark III hand pumps are sturdy and robust pumps, with conventional action lever, that can be installed in shallow to medium-deep wells. The pump is designed for heavy-duty use and can serve village communities of up to 300 people. The configuration of this pump is very similar to the India Mark II, except the down-hole components, which were slightly changed and modified to make the hand pump more suited to village level operation and maintenance, with simpler tools and lesser cost of maintenance. The most decisive modification was the open top cylinder that allows for the removal of the plunger and foot valve without the extraction of cylinder and rising main.

The pump can be installed in a borehole or a dug well. Maximum recommended lift for the India Mark III is 30 m. Apart from the standard 63.5 mm configuration, there exists a version with Ø50 mm cylinder size for lifts of up to 50 m. The pump head, handle, water tank, pump stand and pump rods are made of galvanized steel, rising main of galvanized GI pipe, pump cylinder of cast iron / brass, plunger and foot valve of brass. This pump is not corrosion resistant and this limits its use to areas with suitable water conditions (pH value<6.5). It delivers a maximum stroke length of 125mm and the water discharge ranges from 0.8 to 1.8 cubic meters per hour, depending on the head dimensions, which range from 30m to 10m. The Cylinders are available in Ø50 mm and Ø62.5 mm. All the above ground components of the pump can be locally manufactured, however, the other components require a high degree of quality control check while importing, to ensure a reliable operation. The cylinder can be installed and repaired using simple tools, which allows for hassle free repairs by trained locals, including women.

The India Mark III hand pumps manufactured at Aakash International offer optimum quality through excellent craftsmanship and stringent adherence to industry standards. The raw materials required to build these products are acquired from trusted industry vendors, and are integrated with advanced working mechanisms. Apart from that, strict quality control methods are followed during the manufacturing of these products, which ensures that only the best quality reaches the customers, at modest and affordable prices. Additionally, the pump is available in two variations- 50mm OTC and 65mm OTC, which differ in the dimensions of the riser pipes. Both these variations can be installed in a borehole of up to 45m. Also,comprehensive and detailed user manuals along with tool kits are provided along with the product to ensure hassle free and easy installation, besides smooth repairs.

India Mark II Hand pump-The Backbone of community water supply

The India Mark IIHand Pump, a conventional lever action pump, is one of the largest selling hand pumps across the world. The government of India, along with the continuous and considerable efforts of non-governmental, industrial and multilateral organizations in the 1970s developed this mechanically efficient hand pump. The above ground mechanism comprises of pump head, handle, water tank and stand assemblies, and the below-ground mechanism comprises of riser pipes, connecting rods and cylinder assembly. The pump is designed for heavy-duty use and is capable of serving communities of up to 300 people.

This pump consists of a pump head, pump stand and a handle made of Galvanized steel. The down hole components consist of a brass lined cast iron cylinder with a foot valve and a plunger of brass. Since this pump is not corrosion resistant and requires special skills and tools for maintenance along with installation, it is not considered to be a VLOM (village level operation and management of maintenance) pump. Thus it cannot be used in areas with aggressive water conditions. The above ground body of the pump is made of welded steel plates and is hot dip galvanized for corrosion resistance. The handle bar is designed to reduce the pumping effort of the user to a minimum, since the weight of the connecting rods is counter balanced. The cylinder has a highly polished brass liner, which ensures a long life of the nitrite rubber pump bucket.  The pump requires a circular operating space of 2m diameter and the operating depth ranged from 25-90m, and gives a water output of 900 liters per hour at 40 strokes per minute. The speed might vary, reaching a maximum of 125 strokes per minute but the ideal speed remains 40 strokes per minute. The riser pipes are 32m in diameter and GI, SS, UPVC pipe variants are available.

The mark II pumps manufactured by Aakash International possess features that differentiate them from other variants available in the market. The pumping head, handle, pump stand, rising main and rods are made of galvanized steel which makes them corrosion resistant, while the pump cylinder caste and foot valve are made of brass. Also, the Indian Bureau of Standards has been adhered to while manufacturing of this product to ensure the provision of maximum quality to the customers.

Under the hand pump project of the UNDP/World Bank,   extensive trials were conducted on twelve different deep well hand pumps from all over the world, including France, Holland, Canada, Sweden, South Africa U.K., U.S.A. and India. The parameter for testing included ease of manufacture and use and installation, mechanical and volumetric efficiency, frequency of breakdowns and maintenance needed, user-friendliness and acceptability, and resistance to corrosion. Mark II emerged as the best hand pump of all through these tests, which makes it the most widely used hand pump around the world. The sturdy nature of this hand pump requires adherence to standards of quality control to eliminate broken down pumps that are not in use due to use of sub standard parts during manufacturing. At Aakash International, it is made sure that the standards provided by the Indian Bureau of Standards is adhered to, which ensures that only the best quality is provided to customers.

Force and Lift Hand pumps- efficient water supply and storage

While normal hand pumps pump water from a bore well and deliver at ground level, the force andlift hand pumps are designed to pump water from an underground well to an overhead tank directly. The pump is operated manually and is of great use to draw, store and distribute water in areas where electrical supply is limited or not available. These hand pumps are easy to operate and use, and can be installed in bore wells of up to 100mm diameter. They can efficiently lift water up to 6m above the ground level. They can also be adopted for use along with a water purification device. The force and lift hand pump comes in two variants- India Mark II and Afridev. The India Mark II variant has a stroke length of 125mm, and discharges up to 900 liters of water. This variant also comes with a size length of 3000mm, connecting die of 12mm, rod size length of 3000mm and cylinder inner die of 63.5mm. On the other hand, the Afridev variant has a stroke length of 225mm, and discharges up to 990 liters of water. It also comes with a size length of 2900-3000mm, connecting die of 10 and 12mm, rod size length of 3865-3000mm, and cylinder inner die of 50mm. the end user can choose from these two variants according to their requirements.

The force and lift hand pumps manufactured at Aakash International have some distinct features that give them a unique quality and sets them apart from other options available in the market. The pump head is made of hot dip galvanized mild steel, which lends it a corrosion resistant quality. The customers as per their requirements can choose the quality of connecting rods. It comes in three variants- mild steel electroplated and hot galvanized, FRP, and stainless steel. Similarly, the riser pipe is available in galvanized iron, uPVC and stainless steel variants. The cylinder can be cast iron brass sleeved, uPVC sleeved, made up of stainless steel or brass, depending on the requirement and preference of the customer. The pedestal can either be three legged, four flanged or round flanged. The water tank comes with an M.S socket and SS socket. Additionally, a standard tool kit is provided along with the product for hassle free installation and maintenance of the pump, that can be easily done without the need of expert help. A special tool kit for installation and maintenance can also be provided, if required. Owing to best quality raw materials sourced from trusted vendors of the market and strict quality control measures along with adherence to industry standards of quality, the products manufactured at Aakash International guarantee 100% customer satisfaction at affordable prices.

The force and lift hand pumps are exceptional alternative to conventional water drawing and storage methods, for hygienic water supply and storage. They also solve the problem of lack of water supply due to absence of electricity, as the water drawn from these pumps can be stored in overhead tanks. Apart from that, this water can be filtered before supply, for drinking purposes of a small community, or can be used for public sanitation facilities.

Exceptional features of the Extra Deep Well Hand Pump

Machinery is designed to make people’s lives easier. So it is almost arbitrary that it is designed keeping in mind the ever-dynamic conditions and needs of people. The IndiaMark II extra deep well hand pump, designed with this thought, is a conventional lever action hand pump designed for lifting water from extra deep sources, i.e. where the static water level is deeper than usual, and eliminates the use of conventional wells. This requires these pumps to be sturdy and strongly built.  The maximum recommended lift for these pumps is 80m. Since the installation and maintenance of these pumps require special skills and tool sets, which exceed the ability of the village caretakers, they are not considered to be VLOM (village level operation and management) pumps. However, specifically trained area mechanics are available to install and maintain these pumps.

The India Mark II extra deep well hand pump is a modified version of the India Mark II, better suited for deeper static water levels. The down-hole components consist of a brass lined cast iron cylinder and a brass plunger, which has a triple cup seal of Nitrile rubber. The rising main is of Ø 32 mm (1 ¼”) GI pipe and the pumprods are of galvanized steel with M12 connectors.  It has a stroke length of 10mm that delivers a water discharge of 12 liters per minute, at 40 strokes, which is capable of serving hygienic drinking water to small village communities of up to 200 people, with 10-15 households. 

The handle of the Extra deep well hand pump has a bigger cross section and tee-bar attachments with extra weight, which helps in reducing the manual effort while pumping. Since the water is lifted from a deeper than usual level, it is imperative that extra effort would be required to draw it out. But the counter weights attached to the handle assist in the movement of the handle while in use, and thus reduce the manual effort to a minimal. The number of counter weights varies in accord with the exact depth at which the cylinder has been installed. No weight is required for 50-60m depth, one weight for 60-70m depth, two weights for 70-80m depth and three weights for 80-90m depth. The pump head, handle, water tank, pump stand and pump rods are made of galvanized steel, rising main of galvanized GI pipe, pump cylinder cast of iron or brass, and plunger and foot valve of brass. This pump does not have a corrosion resistant quality and should advisably not be used in areas with aggressive water (pH value < 6.5).

The India Mark II extra deep well hand pumps manufactured at Aakash International offer optimum quality through excellent craftsmanship and stringent adherence to industry standards. The raw materials required to build these products are acquired from trusted industry vendors, and are integrated with advanced working mechanisms. Apart from that, strict quality control methods are followed during the manufacturing of these products, which ensures that only the best quality reaches the customers, at modest and affordable prices.

Deep Well Hand pumps Manufacturer Aakash International

A Deep well hand pump is used when the static water level (distance between top of the ground and top of the water level) is more than 20 meters. In most cases, the pump cylinder is installed at least 20 meters below the static water level, and connects to the well head through a series of PVC pipes and stainless steel lift rods. Since these pumps draw water from deeper than usual levels, it is necessary that they are sturdy and strongly built.

The Deep well hand pump can be installed in bore wells of a diameter of minimum 125mm and the internal diameter of the underground cylinder ranges from 60-65mm. the stroke length ranges from 120-130mm. these hand pumps give a water discharge of 12-15 liters per minute of 40 strokes, and an average of 900-960 liters per hour. The maximum depth of operation of these hand pumps is 30 meters. These pumps are self-priming and do not require routinely maintenance. Also, they are available in different grades and dimensions, which can be customized as per the client requires. This pump has excellent “community management potential” and can be easily installed and repaired by a village caretaker or women, making it popular with small communities. The above ground parts of the pump can be locally manufactured, but the rest of the components require a high degree of manufacturing quality, which is not available around the globe. So in some countries, these components need to be imported. However, imported components require strict quality control and check to increase the lifetime of the hand pump, and considerably reduce wear and tear of parts and disuse due to corrosion.

Deep well hand pumps manufactured at Aakash International offer optimum quality through excellent craftsmanship and stringent adherence to industry standards. The raw materials required to build these products are acquired from trusted industry vendors, and are integrated with advanced working mechanisms. Apart from that, strict quality control methods are followed during the manufacturing of these products, which ensures that only the best quality reaches the customers, at modest and affordable prices. The sturdy design and in-built strength of the product warrants that maintenance costs are low and constant replacing of parts is not required. Additionally, comprehensive and detailed user manuals are provided to ensure hassle free and easy installation of the product.

Afridev Hand pumps- economical supply of drinking water for rural and suburban areas.

Hand pumps are readily replacing the conventional use of wells to provide a simple solution for providing hygienic supply of drinking water in rural and suburban environments. They improve the hygienic conditions under which water is drawn off, by eliminating the use of buckets and open vessels, thereby eliminating to a great extent the risk of water contamination.

The Afridev hand pump is one of the few recommended by UNICEF as pumps benefiting from its VLOM (Village Level Operation and Management of maintenance) label, in other words, robust pumps that can be fully maintained locally, either by the community members themselves or by a technician that they can call out quickly, and which are also produced locally and selected, managed and maintained by the community. It is designed for heavy duty use, with a conventional lever action that can serve communities of up to 300 people. Its maximum recommended lift is 45m and the pump is fully corrosion resistant, the bearing bushes being hot dip galvanized and made of special plastics. Alternative stainless steel lined cylinders are also available for aggressive water conditions apart from the mild steel variant. The pump comes with variable handle settings, which makes it possible to adapt to varying ground water levels at different times. The spout length and pedestal can be customized according to different needs. The assembling and dismantling of the parts is quite effortless since the foot valve fitted on to the pump can be easily retracted using a fishing tool. Rubber centralisers are provided to each connecting rod to prevent internal damage to uPVC pipes, due to corrosion. 225 mm stroke length of the handle in afridev hand pump can provide a water discharge of 1350 litres per hour with an installation depth range between 15 m to 45 m. These hand pumps have quick release eye & hook tool-less ends on connecting rods with rubber centralizers facilitate maintenance and protect the riser pipe against internal wear.  Special tools and guided installation manuals are also available with the afridev hand pumps, which makes the assembling and installation very easy. Fulcrum & Rod hanger pins are supported on special grade plastic Bush Bearings, which are easily replaceable. The uPVC riser pipe, cylinder, plunger & foot valves used in the pump are light weight and inexpensive. Additionally, rubber centralisers are provided to each uPVC pipe to prevent external damage, which further lowers the maintenance and operational costs.

Afridev hand pumps manufactured at AakashInternational have a few special features that distinguish them from other pumps available in the market. A choice of Eye & hook connecting rod or threaded connecting rod is provided. They are easy to instate and can be accomplished even by women mechanics in villages. Additionally, quick release Eye & Hook tool-less ends on Connecting Rods with rubber Centralizers facilitate maintenance and protect the riser pipe against internal wear.  The tools for installation and maintenance, along with an interactive user manual are provided along with the hand pump.

The unique features of the Afridev hand pump renders it a special quality which sets it apart from the conventional manual hand pumps as it can be quite easily assembled and installed and doesn’t need dismantling of all the parts for maintenance or replacing. Also, it cuts out on the high maintenance costs owing to the non corrosive nature of the connecting rods. The tools for installation further eases out the usage. The afridev hand pump thus eliminates the difficulties and complexities associated with machinery and give it a user friendly quality, while solving the problem of hygienic drinking water supply in urban and suburban areas.