A roundabout way to get water

A roundabout way to get water

The sub-Saharan region in Africa suffers from a lack of fresh water unlike any other area in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa is in a subtropical belt of high pressure, which produces less than the minimum amount of rainfall required for successful dry-land farming. The presence of invasive plant species brought in by colonists has soaked up the billions of gallons of water from South African streams and rivers. The remaining water is polluted and hazardous due to agricultural and urban runoff.

It is estimated that 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, which could rise to 2.3 billion in the next twenty years. This lack of safe water and sanitation has become the largest cause of illness in the world and causes water-related disease among over half the people in developing countries. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation would reduce the risk of death by nearly fifty percent. Right now, rural areas only have access to bore holes operated by hand pumps. Water cannot be hygienically stored and is carried long distances by women and children. Many organizations aim to provide free fresh water to rural areas in Africa. Although fresh water is constantly being delivered, a permanent, convenient, economic solution has not been developed, until now.

Recently, a company based in South Africa called Roundabout Outdoor has developed the PlayPump, a water purifying and storage system that utilizes the energy of children at play. Children play on a playground merry-go-round structure placed around schoolyards. The structure is attached to a water pump that can reach up to depths of a hundred meters. From the standard depth of forty meters, the PlayPump can raise up to one thousand four hundred liters per hour, or four liters per revolution. The spinning motion raises water to a two thousand five hundred liter tank above the ground, where families can easily access the water through a tap valve.

To date, over seven hundred PlayPumps have been installed across South Africa. Recently, a sixty million dollar campaign has been launched, with over ten million dollars in grants from the US government. With this, Roundabout Outdoor hopes to bring clean drinking water to up to ten million people in Sub-Saharan Africa within the next three years. PlayPumps cost six thousand dollars to install. Billboards on the sides of the water storage tank are available for public service messages and advertising, which helps to pay for the cost of installation and maintenance for ten years.

The health benefits of PlayPumps reach far beyond access to fresh water. Children have the ability to play and stay in school instead of hauling water across great distances. Women also benefit, as they no longer have to transport the heavy water containers. PlayPump billboards used for public service messaging increase awareness about HIV/AIDS and promote healthy behaviors. Further, local workers are trained and hired to install the PlayPumps, creating job opportunities in the community and providing the ability for ongoing maintenance and repairs. You can get involved with PlayPumps by volunteering, donating, or running a fundraiser though PlayPumps.org.