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Rising fuel costs, food shortages, a growing population, and lack of access to medical and educational resources present some of the 21st century's greatest global challenges.

iDW collects and features innovative solutions to these problems from all over the developed and underdeveloped world, and invites active feedback from its readers.

If you would like to publicize your own appropriate technology solutions, or have any suggestions for future features please contact iDW at: idw.news@gmail.com

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Harnessing the power of children at play

The PlayPump system is an innovative, water pump powered by children at play.  Installed near schools, the device doubles as a water pump and a merry-go-round for children.


While children have fun spinning on the PlayPump merry-go-round (1), clean water is pumped (2) from underground (3) into a 2,500-liter tank (4), standing seven meters above the ground.

A simple tap (5) makes it easy for adults and children to draw water. Excess water is diverted from the storage tank back down into the borehole (6).

The water storage tank (7) provides a rare opportunity to advertise in outlaying communities.  All four sides of the tank are leased as billboards, with two sides for consumer advertising and the other two sides for health and educational messages. The revenue generated by this unique model pays for pump maintenance.

The design of the PlayPump water system makes it highly effective, easy to operate and very economical, keeping costs and maintenance to an absolute minimum.

Capable of producing up to 1,400 liters of water per hour at 16 rpm from a depth of 40 meters, it is effective up to a depth of 100 meters.


For more information visit Playpump's site:  Playpumps International




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