What happened to PlayPumps?
History. The PlayPump was invented in South Africa by Ronnie Stuiver, a borehole driller and engineer, who exhibited it at an agricultural fair in 1989. Later it was adopted by the Kenyan Government but was disbanded after it was proven to be ineffective.
Why did the PlayPump fail?
Problem was that it did not end up working out as planned. The PlayPumps needed to spin all day long in order to provide enough water for a community. That meant children and adults were no playing, but walking endlessly in circles to get the water out of the ground. The over-hyped idea failed spectacularly.
What is PlayPump and how it works?
The PlayPump system operates much like a windmill. As children play and turn the merry-go-round, the rotation drives a mechanism to draw water from an underground well to a secure storage tank above ground. The stored water flows from a faucet with a simple turn of a handle.
What is the African PlayPump?
The PlayPump–a water-storing device fueled by children playing on a merry-go-round that forces water into a tank–has fallen out of favor within the international aid community. Across Africa, many PlayPumps are in need of repair while others have been removed and hand pumps have been re-installed.
What does a PlayPump look like?
PlayPump looks like the kind of colorful merry-go-round you’d see at a children’s playground. The attached tank can hold 660 gallons (2,500 liters) of water, enough to provide clean drinking water for 2,500 people each day [source: PlayPump International].
Who created the PlayPump?
Trevor Field
Trevor Field invented the play pump, which is a playground merry-go-round that can produce enough water for up to 200,000 people.
Who invented play pumps?
Why does a PlayPump ™ system make a difference to schools and communities What are some other ways we can help the water crisis?
Why does a PlayPump™ system make a difference to schools and communities? Children can play while they pump water from the ground into a holding container for future use. A simple tap provides easy access for women and children drawing water.
How much does a PlayPump cost?
Each PlayPump system costs about $14,000, which covers the merry-go-round, pump, storage tank, tap, piping, setup, installation and operating costs.
What are the benefits of the PlayPump?
The PlayPump is often the only piece of playground equipment at a school and provides the children with a constructive and rewarding way to use their energy. Improved health by virtue of a reduction in water borne diseases. This leads to a reduction in the number of cases of diarrhoea.
When were pumps invented?
The PlayPump is a children’s roundabout that pumps water. The basic system was invented by water engineer Ronnie Stuiver in South Africa in 1989, and then modified and popularised by a former advertising executive, Trevor Field.
How many PlayPumps are there in the world?
The PlayPump was originally invented by a South African farmer who sought an innovative way to help schools access water and as of now there are over 900 PlayPumps around the country. The first ever PlayPump was installed in 1996 and is still in use over 20 years later.