The Indus, Kabul and Pamir Pumps are conventional lever action handpumps. They are designed for heavy-duty use, serving communities of 300 persons. The maximum recommended lift is 15 m for the Kabul Pump, 45 m for the Indus Pump and 60 m for the Pamir Pump. The pumps are not fully corrosion resistant; rods are subject to rusting. The Indus, Kabul and Pamir Pumps are public domain pumps defined by RWSN specifications, only used in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are easy to install and have excellent potential for community-based maintenance.
The Indus, Kabul and Pamir Pumps are conventional lever action handpumps. The configuration includes an “open top” cylinder: the piston can be removed from the cylinder without dismantling the rising main. The foot valve is retractable with a fishing tool.
Material
Pump head, handle and pump stand are made of galvanised steel, pump rods of mild steel, rising main of PVC-U pipe (Ø63 mm), cylinder of PVC-U pipe with brass liner (Ø50 mm), plunger and foot valve are of plastic. These pumps are not fully corrosion resistant, the rods are subject to corrosion.
Local manufacturing
All parts of these pumps have a potential for local manufacturing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Local companies who manufacture PVC-U pipes and have the knowledge of processing engineering plastics are able to produce the “down-hole components”. The cost of the tooling is high and therefore the number of manufacturer will be limited.
Technical data
| Depths to be used: | 10-60 m |
| Cylinder diameter: | 50.0 mm, |
| Maximum Stroke: | 225 mm, |
| Approx. discharge (75 watt input): | at 10 m head: 1.4 m³/hour, |
| at 15 m head: 1.1 m³/hour, | |
| at 20 m head: 0.9 m³/hour, | |
| at 30 m head: 0.7 m³/hour, | |
| Pumping lift: | 10 - 45 m, |
| Population served: | ~ 300 people, |
| Households: | 30 - 50 hh, |
| Water cons.: | 15-20 lt/per capita, |
| Type of well: | borehole or dug well. |
Installation
Installation of the Indus pump is not difficult and does not need any lifting equipment. It is however recommended that a well-trained crew with the necessary skills perform the installation.
Maintenance
This pump has an excellent “Community Management Potential”, it is reliable, easy to repair by a village caretaker and popular with the communities.
Remarks
Neither in Pakistan nor in Afghanistan, the use of stainless steel components is not common; therefore, these pumps should not be used as substitutes for Afridev Handpumps.
Distribution:
Tens of thousands in Pakistan & Afghanistan.
Abbreviations:
ISO International Standard Organisation
PVC-U Polyvinyl Chloride (unplasticised)
MS Mild Steel
SS Stainless Steel
References
- RWSN, Indus, Kabul & Pamir Handpump Specification, Rev. 1-2006,
- RWSN, Indus, Kabul & Pamir Quality Control Guidelines, Rev. 1-2006.
Example: Possible composition of a selected Indus Pump:
Pump head type B
Pump stand type C
Rising main arrangement A
Cylinder arrangement A
Pump rod arrangement C
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