Biofuelled water pump

Improving access to water - sustainably

Practical Action is helping remote communities in north-west Sri Lanka use water pumps powered by bio-fuels to get access to safe drinking water.

Like many other South Asian countries, Sri Lanka is dependent on fossil fuels for power generation, but the escalating price of such fuels in the global market has hit poorer societies hardest.  

Practical Action has been working with local communities to look at viable alternatives such as bio diesel from inedible plant oils.  Wide scale use of bio fuel in Sri Lanka could be a sustainable and appropriate solution to provide access to clean and safe energy, as well as reducing energy poverty. Bio fuel could also provide technological and employment opportunities for the rural sector.

Bio-diesel has already helped the communities of the remote village of Gurugoda in the north-west of Sri Lanka, where the lack of access to drinking water had been a terrible problem for many years. Only one well had drinkable water in the village and almost the whole community - usually the women - had to continually fetch drinking water for their families. On average at least six trips were made by each family to this water source every day.

In response, Practical Action introduced a community water scheme to pump safe drinking water from the well in the village. This scheme uses a diesel water pump fuelled by bio diesel.

The water pumping project started in March 2009 and now provides water for up to 100 people in the village. Families have saved many precious hours in their day and no longer have to put their own safety at risk by collecting water at night. Crucially they have enough water to meet their families' needs.

Mrs Josepin Nona, from Gurugoda says, "I used to collect water every day for my family. I had to go seven times a day to collect water from the well. We had to get water within the daytime because of the danger of snakes and elephant attacks at night. Now we are very happy and satisfied with the water system. I can save time and even at night we can access water safely. It helps to improve the health of my family."

The project is also developing sustainable technologies that are energy efficient and low cost for the poor remote communities. The bio oil lamp and bio oil cook stove have been manufactured after testing and improvements were made. Bio oil is safe due to the low risk of flammability and the stove also saves energy as well and time. Both these innovative products are very economical compared to traditional methods such as the kerosene lamp.