Thursday 5 July 2007: Well broken
Since we discovered the water crises in some new areas, Harisen has got to work trying to find a quick but sustainable solution.
The options are spring protection, which is cleaning out, digging, building and enclosing a existing natural spring.
An alternative is refurbishing a well such as that in the picture and fitting a new canzee pump.
A bigger job is digging a new well, building a brick lining, making and fixing a concrete,cover and finally fixing a canzee pump.
Harisen was up at 4am yesterday morning and travelled about 300 miles to Salima to collect Cranfield masters student Ian Sutton to enlist his help in some well drilling.
Ian is evaluating some alternative techniques for his thesis, which hopefully will be a help to us.
When the arrived in Mzuzu with loads of pics the net was down and still is, hence the pic of the pic from July 2.
It portrays a common sight from Africa, where only about 20% of the pumps installed over the past 25 years actually work today.
The pumps are often too technically complex that they need constant back up of parts and expertise.
Malawians say, they come, put in the pump and leave. Everything is great. It works for a while and when it breaks down we have neither the parts or the knowledge to fix it
The Canzee pump is low tech, low spec, affordable and has only two wearing parts which can be replaced by village women in 5 minutes, and the only tool they need is a 4 inch nail or the equivalent.
Comments
Everyone is doing a wonderful job here. It's fascinating to read about it, and see the photos.
~ Grandmama
The design of that Canzee pump is brilliant - so simple that even I understand the principle of how it operates. I should imagine the delivery costs more than the pump.
~ shy
shy,
Thanks for the comment.
We are just about to start the construction of a factory to make them in Mzuzu. The cost saving will be significant.
Richard Cansdale, has most of the equipment ready, in Morpeth, in a container, ready to be shipped to Malawi.
As well as training the locals to make the pump, he intends to use the facility in Mzuzu as a base for training all comers.
We're looking forward to it
~ wellsforzoe
Just looked through your last few days back blips, I've been very busy but am hopefully catching up! They are excellent! This is an amazing project and you are helping so many people get, what every day we take for granted. This well sounds, as shy says 'brilliant'. You and your team are doing a fantastic job!
I've added you to my favourites so I don't miss any progress!
~ Tinks
~ Tinks
You look to be doing a smashing job yourself, and enjoying it.
You will have your hands full when todays foot and the other one start moving, at speed
~ wellsforzoe
Once again, good image, good blip. Nice to see Salima mentioned. That's where I was a volunteer teacher for 2 years.
~ buzzcocksfan
Good to hear about the Canzee pump, hope you can get more of these! also that the internet can be up and running soon!
~ BB
how interesting any chance of blipping the working bits?
~ Flick
~ Flick
I'll locate something and post it later.
I appreciate the interest
~ wellsforzoe
I thought the first Canzee-pump was made by some New Zealand guy...
It 's great that tecnical students are encouraged to invent smart and easy to maintain stuff for places like Africa. The best and clever ideas often come from students...
Is Wells for Zoë also using that new condensed water technology ?
~ anders
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