Survey of potential sites for installation of hydraulic ram pumps

Abstract

The overall objective of the project was to identify a few sites, selected from one or more districts which would be suitable for the installation of a ram pump system. In August 1993 a workshop was held at the University of Moratuwa on the "Use of Hydraulic Ram Pumps for Rural Water Supply and Irrigation". Following this workshop, a pilot project was implemented at Bulathsinhala in collaboration with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. The project supplied water to a rural school and several houses in Niggaha. There is now an increasing awareness and interest in the use of ram pumps in Sri Lanka. The University of Moratuwa is actively involved in the technology transfer process. The PALM Foundation (Nuwara Eliya) has already implemented several ram pump projects. The locations selected through this project have covered the districts of Gampaha, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya and Colombo. Ram pumps are particularly useful in areas that are hilly and do not have electricity. These can be used for water supply and irrigation. This project has been funded by the University of Moratuwa.