2025 Handpump Survey (EN / FR / PT)

With this survey, we want to learn about your ongoing experiences with handpumps, focussing on corrosion, often referred to as “the red water” problem. It follows from previous RWSN Handpump Surveys published in 2013 and 2021, which looked at a broader range of issues. High levels of iron in handpump supplies can require pumping for some time until the water becomes clear, can result inthe rejection of the source by users, and/or can lead to premature failure of the supply. We want to learn from you – even if you have not experienced this problem!

This 16-question survey should take no more than 25 minutes of your time. It will remain open until 15 November 2025. Thank you, and please do encourage others to participate.

Français

Avec cette enquête, nous souhaitons connaître vos expériences actuelles avec les pompes à motricité humaine, en mettant l'accent sur la corrosion, souvent appelée "le problème de l'eau rouge". Elle fait suite aux précédentes enquêtes sur les pompes à motricité humaine du RWSN publiées en 2013 et 2021, qui portaient sur un éventail plus large de problèmes. Des niveaux élevés de fer dans les pompes à motricité humaine peuvent nécessiter un pompage pendant un certain temps jusqu'à ce que l'eau devienne claire, peuvent entraîner le rejet de la source par les utilisateurs, et/ou peuvent conduire à une défaillance prématurée de l'approvisionnement. Nous souhaitons connaître votre avis, même si vous n'avez pas rencontré ce problème !

Cette enquête de 16 questions ne devrait pas vous prendre plus de 25 minutes. Elle restera ouverte jusqu'au 15 novembre 2025. Merci, et n'hésitez pas à encourager d'autres personnes à participer.

Português

A Rede Rural de Abastecimento de Água (RWSN) continua a apoiar os serviços rurais de abastecimento de água, incluindo os esforços para garantir que as infra-estruturas são de boa qualidade. Estão a ser desenvolvidos esforços para abordar questões de qualidade e corrosão das bombas manuais através de uma iniciativa chamada Stop the Rot .

Com este inquérito, queremos saber mais sobre as suas experiências actuais com bombas manuais, centrando-nos na corrosão, muitas vezes referida como o problema da "água vermelha". Vem no seguimento de anteriores Inquéritos sobre Bombas Manuais da RWSN publicados em 2013 e 2021, que analisaram uma gama mais vasta de questões. Níveis elevados de ferro no abastecimento de bombas manuais podem requerer a bombagem durante algum tempo até a água ficar limpa, podem resultar na rejeição da fonte pelos utilizadores e/ou podem levar à falha prematura do abastecimento. Queremos saber a sua opinião - mesmo que não tenha tido este problema!

Ensuring the quality of boreholes and pumps for rural water supplies

In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 200 million people (about one in five of the population) rely on a handpump as their main source of drinking water, using about 700,000 handpumps. While the popularity of other technologies is growing, handpumps are likely to remain important in the region for decades to come, particularly in areas that are remote or with low population density. Unfortunately, many handpump services perform poorly or fail prematurely due to technical or installation defects with the borehole or the pump, as well as weaknesses with operation and maintenance or financial constraints.

But many handpump sources are failing prematurely – most likely due to a technical, or installation problem with the borehole or pump. Rapid handpump corrosion is one cause of premature failure, as are faulty components, or low-quality boreholes. A broken, or failed handpump or borehole means that people have to revert to distant, or contaminated sources of drinking water.

Stop the Rot is an RWSN initiative which strives to raise the quality of handpumps for rural water supplies and mitigate rapid handpump corrosion. Since commencing in late October 2020, the initiative has brought stakeholders together with an interest in taking action to address these issues. The Stop the Rot Action Group meets 3 to 4 times per year (online).

This webpage consolidates the fliers, reports and event recordings of Stop the Rot as well as related research publications to date. If you have specific questions, would like to find out more about the action group, or contribute to Stop the Rot, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

World Bank Water Knowledge Note

The Preventing Rapid Corrosion of Handpumps Through Regulations knowledge note is available here in English, French, and Portuguese.

Fliers

Guidance

WASH Funders Infrastructure Checklists: Boreholes and Handpumps, Danert, K., Sloots, R., Ndiaye, T., Bogle, S and Questad, A. (2024) ‘WASH Funders Infrastructure Checklist: Boreholes and Handpumps’. First Edition. Ask for Water GmbH, Skat Foundation and the Rural Water Supply Network, St Gallen, Switzerland