Community members collect water from a public handpump in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan. ©Kerstin Danert/Rural Water Supply Network. Used with permission. Further permission required for reuse.
A pressing issue has emerged for public drinking water infrastructure: the corrosion of handpumps. It’s a problem that has been overlooked in the past but has potentially catastrophic consequences.
Although other technologies are gaining popularity, handpumps are likely to remain essential for decades to come, particularly in remote or sparsely populated areas. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, where handpumps are a lifeline for many communities, approximately 200 million people rely on them as their primary source of drinking water, with more than 700,000 handpumps installed. When corrosion occurs, it almost inevitably leads to pump failure, resulting in extended periods of water unavailability. These interruptions can last for months, affecting millions of people who rely on these handpumps for their daily water needs. It has been estimated that between 16% and 58% of handpumps in this region are presently non-functional.
Metal components that are submerged in water or that cycle in and out of water will eventually corrode, making corrosion prevention essential for the long-term maintenance of handpumps used in public drinking water systems. Research shows that galvanizing alone is not sufficient to protect pumps in natural groundwater conditions. Low pH, salinity and high chloride levels also accelerate corrosion of various handpump components. Lead leaching from brass/bronze components also poses a significant health risk to users of these pumps.
“Using certified-safe components [for the handpumps] has multiple benefits, minimizing the risk to other hazardous contaminants. In contrast, delay carries further disease burden, increases the ultimate cost of protecting populations, and accumulates remediation burdens for future generations” said Jamie Bartram, Professor of Public Health and Environment in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds, who, who coordinated recent research in three West African countries.
The good news is that advances in groundwater quality mapping are paving the way for effective preventive measures. By identifying potential sources of corrosion linked to the physicochemical parameters of the groundwater, authorities can significantly reduce corrosion risks and ensure the long-term functionality of handpumps.
In collaboration with the Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN), the World Bank is advocating for the establishment, monitoring, and enforcement of regulations to combat handpump corrosion. A technical note prepared by the World Bank, with technical assistance from the RWSN, proposes the implementation of a regulatory framework for material quality standards for handpumps used in public water supply. This regulatory tool will enable authorities to maintain the durability of pumping infrastructure and ensure continued access to quality water for communities.
As we move forward, it is imperative that we continue to prioritize initiatives that address handpump corrosion. By addressing this critical issue head-on, we can ensure access to clean water for vulnerable communities and the sustainability of vital water infrastructure. Together, we can make significant progress toward achieving universal access to clean water and improving the lives of millions of people around the world.
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