The Tara handpump : the birth of a star
Kjellerup, Bent | Journey, William K. | Minnatullah, Khawaja M.
This report is about the Tara (Bengali for "star") handpump. It is a low-lift, direct action handpump developed in Bangladesh using concepts that are now proving to be suitable for community water supply applications in a number of other developing countries. The pump's main features are its simplicity, low cost, and ease of maintenance. It has been specifically designed to make maximum use of materials and skills available in Bangladesh, where, in 1987, it was adopted as the standard handpump for installation in areas of the country where the depth to the water table exceeds the normal suction limit for handpumps (about 7.5 mm) and is less than 12m. The design of the pump has been developing since the first prototypes were produced in July 1982, and at each stage the Tara has been subjected to comprehensive testing both in the laboratory and in field trials. The aim of this paper is to track the development of the Tara from its origins in Bangladesh's need for an alternative to the ubiquitous New No. 6 suction pump, to the present proven design, now finding application in Africa and Latin America as well as on the Indian subcontinent. Thus, it is hoped to provide pointers for others seeking to profit from the Bangladesh experience, either by adapting the Tara design to their own circumstances, or by initiating their own research and development program.
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