Pumping
Solar-powered water systems offer safe water and hope for communities across the world and, more often than not, are a favored approach for Water Mission. In addition to being beneficial for the environment (especially when compared to water that’s supplied via a generator), solar-powered pumps are sustainable for the communities that operate them. With over 1,000 solar-powered systems installed, Water Mission has experienced less than a 1% failure rate. We have also seen a reduction of overall lifecycle costs of more than 40% when compared to drilled boreholes fitted with hand pumps that are designed for equivalent service areas and lifespans.
Advantages of Solar-Powered Pumping
When compared with alternative power sources – including hand pumps, an electrical grid connection, or generator power – solar power is the best overall choice in many situations. A majority of the advantages of solar-powered pumping fall into the following four categories:
Serve more people.
Higher flow and head capacity than hand pumps means that solar pumping can serve more people in less time significantly reducing queuing times.
Treat, store, and distribute water.
Water can be treated and stored in elevated tanks which means that water can be provided where end users are able to access it easily.
Provide high levels of service in remote areas.
Solar pumps can operate in remote off-grid areas without access to electrical grid power. Additionally, solar pumps provide quantity, accessibility, and reliability that’s equal to (if not greater than) traditional AC powered pumps.
Minimize operation & maintenance costs.
Very little capital maintenance is required and most solar pumps continue to function for 10+ years. Plus, solar-powered systems are not difficult to operate and training only takes a few weeks.
Download a printable PDF of solar-powered water pumping advantages. DOWNLOAD PDF
Where Are Solar-Powered Water Systems Most Effective?
Solar-powered water systems are traditionally associated with rural towns, but continued advances in the technology (find some of our own research here) mean that these systems can operate effectively in an ever-increasing variety of climates and locales. From Water Mission’s years of experience in installing and maintaining solar-powered water systems, we’ve found they display their advantages to the fullest in the following environments:
Small Towns
Trading Centers
Refugee & IDP Camps
Watch a video on our approach to solar-powered pumping. WATCH VIDEO
For more information about Water Mission or solar pumping solutions, visit our Research Page or contact Sean McSwain, Project Manager – Partnership Support, at smcswain@watermission.org.