Page 300 - Applied Photovoltaics

Appendix

F

ALTERNATIVE

SOURCES OF POWER

FOR WATER

PUMPING

F.1 INTRODUCTION
A wide variety of power sources are used for water pumping, depending on local
conditions. Each power source has various advantages and disadvantages, as
discussed below, and each has specific applications where it is the favoured energy
source and determines the corresponding pumping technique (Halcrow & Partners,
1981).

F.2 HUMAN LABOUR USING HAND PUMPS
Advantages:
x readily available in most developing countries
x low investment cost
x can be flexibly deployed
x simple technology, easy to maintain.
Disadvantages:
x high feeding costs and associated wages
3
x low output, limited by the strength of the human body to about 10 m/day
3
from a depth of 10 m, or 5 m /day from 20 m
x diverts a valuable resource from more productive activities.