Investigation on the Causes of Failure and Repair of Manual Water Pump

Abstract

Manual water pumps are crucial in providing reliable water supply, particularly in rural communities where electricity supply is unavailable. However, their frequent failures and subsequent need for costly repairs have often resulted in community frustration and abandonment. This study investigates failure of manual water pump systems, encompassing experiments such as tensile strength testing, optical microstructural analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental analysis, weight loss trials, and water quality assessment. The outcome of the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) for the New and Old Pipe Samples was 392.57 N/mm2 and 371.22 N/mm2 respectively. Optical microstructural analysis reveals that older galvanized pipes have larger grain sizes, potentially increasing susceptibility to corrosion. XRF analysis uncovers differences in elemental composition between old and new galvanized pipes, particularly higher zinc concentrations in the old pipes, suggesting more effective galvanization. Weight loss experiments demonstrate accelerated corrosion rates in old pipes, underlining the impact of aging and the need for corrosion protection measures. Water quality analysis indicates stable element concentrations (Na, Mg, Mn) but slight variability in iron levels, raising concerns about potential contribution of corrosion to water pollution. By investigating the factors contributing to pump malfunctions and improving maintenance practices, this study contributes significantly to the global effort to combat the water crisis. Furthermore, the selection of suitable materials for pump installations is explored to mitigate corrosion-related challenges, particularly concerning galvanized pipes.