Rural Water Supply Handpumps Project : laboratory testing, field trials and technological development

In 1977 the Overseas Development Administration of the UK Government was anxious to respond to growing criticism of field failures of handpumps which had been provided as aid to Developing Countries. They also wanted to obtain better 'value for money' in their purchases of handpumps. CA testing and research laboratories were approached for assistance since they were an independent organization with many years of practical experience in comparative testing and product assessment. Consumers' Association Testing and Research Laboratories (CATR) devised a comprehensive and long-term testing program for hand-and foot-operated pumps, using novel testing techniques and obtained a great deal of information which had not previously been available to institutional buyers. The Official Development Assistance (ODA) also required the technical data on performance, manufacturing quality, engineering design assessment, ergonomic and user information, abuse and endurance tests to be sent to the manufacturers of the pumps to assist them in improving the quality and reliability of their products.