Water Lifting Technology:

Threadle Pump

Dzalika Nur P
M. Alfiansyah
Primazahra Agya Z. M
Ulfa Fajria D
Treadle Pump
• Treadle pump is a human-powered low cost
pump designed to lift water source for irrigation
• A treadle is a lever device pressed by the foot to
drive a piston in cylinder
• Leg muscles tire than arm muscle, and two
cylinders manage water flows continously
History
• This pump was originally researched and
developed in Bnagladesh in early 80s. In a
period 15 years nearly 2 million pumps were
disseminated in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and
Asia and Africa countries
• In Nepal, this pump introduced by International
Development Enterprises (IDE) durung 90s
• Various studies have shown that the pump
generate $100-$500 additional household
income for rural farmers
Mechanism
• The mechanism has two cylinders with piston
and check valve assemblies. The treadle action
creates alternate strokes in the two pistons that
lift the water in pulses
• Using twin cylinders means that the water
output is semi-continous making treadle pump
more efficient that a single cylinder pump
Types
• Portable: Portable models have an inlet pipe that
can be extended to surface water or down a well,
and can be used for watering up to 1,500 square
meters, and its portability allows it to be used for
multiple fields. Treadles, handles and the frame
are generally made of steel, but they can be
made of local materials (wood or bamboo), as
well.
• Fixed: The Fixed Treadle Pump is a foot-
operated, low-cost option for accessing large
quantities of water when the depth to water is
less than seven meters. Fixed models are
mounted on a well casing and use the casing
pipe as the pump support. Treadles, handles and
the frame are generally made of local materials
(wood or bamboo)
• Pressure : These pumps are especially versatile
and can be used for a large variety of irrigating
conditions. Most models have an inlet pipe that
can be used to draw water from the surface or
under ground. Available water output is
inversely proportional to the height the pump is
lifting the water: the deeper the water, and the
higher or further the water is pushed, the less
water output is available for the same energy
expended
Cost
• The cheapest models are found in Bangladesh, a
country where they have been invented and
manufactured on a very large scale and where they
can be found from €30. The improved models
adapted to Africa cost, for example, in Niger, Mali or
Burkina Faso, depending on their characteristics,
about €110 to €140. Count €100 to €200 to include
the costs of creating the associated small borehole.
• Maintenance costs are low and less than €10/year.
Main Highlights
• High water output
• Easy to operate
• Affordable
• Appropriate and attractive to smallholders
• Zero fuel cost
• Can be installed locally
Specification
• Depth of pumping up to 22 ft- 45 ft (6.7 m-
13.7m)
• Water discharge : 0.8-1 lps (depends on depth
and power)
• Irrigable land by one pump: 2000-3000m2
• Size of the tube well : 1.5 inch
• OM : $0.8 / year
OM
Advantages
• Low cost
• Easy to operate and maintain
• Ecologycal
Potential Problems
• The most common repair is replacing the
plunger seals
• The hook connector tend to break or
disconnected
• The numbers of problem increases with
increasing depth
• More deeper depth, the more strenght needed
Source
• Brikke, Francois. 2003. “Linking technology choice
with operation and maintenance in the context of
community water supply and sanitation : a
reference document for planners and project staff /
prepared by François Brikke and Maarten
Bredero”. Geneva: World Health Organization.
• Practical Action Technology challenging poverty.
Threadle pump.
• https://www.techxlab.org/solutions/ide-treadle-
pump
Thank You