Rachel

Lovell

Feasibility Study of Treadle Pumps in

Rural Southern Mexico
An examination of product sustainability and its environmental and social impact

Contents

Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Methodology .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Phase I- Initial Assessment.......................................................................................................................................... 5
The Treadle Pump ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Design Components ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Piston and Cylinder ............................................................................................................................................. 7
Frame and Treadles ............................................................................................................................................. 7
Check Valves ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Pulley System ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Mechanical Advantage ............................................................................................................................................. 7
Lever Principle ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Pulley Principle..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Cilinder Lift Capacity per Stroke ........................................................................................................................... 9
Cadence and Foot Input Force ............................................................................................................................ 10
Pressure Head and Force ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Discharge Capacity ................................................................................................................................................. 11
Suction Lift and Delivery.................................................................................................................................. 11
Priming before First Use ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Prototype Performance ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Pilot Implementation Results .................................................................................................................................... 13
Obtaining Materials Locally .................................................................................................................................. 13
Workshop Setup ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Prototype Workshop ............................................................................................................................................. 13
Case Study: Don Pablos Plot ................................................................................................................................... 13
Project Feasibility ........................................................................................................................................................ 15
Sustainability............................................................................................................................................................ 15
Cost to Build....................................................................................................................................................... 15
Availability of Materials .................................................................................................................................... 15
Sustainability of Design .................................................................................................................................... 15
Community Participation ................................................................................................................................. 15
Community Dependence.................................................................................................................................. 16
Appendix A .................................................................................................................................................................. 17
1

Appendix B .................................................................................................................................................................. 18
References .................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Acknowledgements..................................................................................................................................................... 19

Table of Figures
Figure 1. Map of San Miguel Huautla in the region of La Mixteca Alta. Source: Universidad Tecnologica de
La MIxteca (UTM).............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Figure 3. Program's Baseline and Monitoring Cycle Diagram ............................................................................... 6
Figure 2. Project Cycle Diagram. Phases I and II have been completed ............................................................. 6
Figure 4. Treadle Pump picture showing input and output forces ....................................................................... 8
Figure 5. Picture demonstrating load and exerted forces applied to pedals ........................................................ 9
Figure 6. Illustration of Pistons highlighting Stroke Length (based on empirical test) ................................... 10
Figure7.Vacuum ressure Illustration. Source: Marispumps. Web. http://www.marispumps.com/blog/howdoes-an-end-suction-pump-work. Retrieved April 2014. ........................................................................................... 12
Figure 8. Don Pablo and his son, heating hoses for plumbing assembly. ......................................................... 14
Figure 9. Rough Sketch of Don Pablo's farm for illustration purposes............................................................. 14

Feasibility Study of Treadle Pumps in Rural

Southern Mexico
An examination of product sustainability and its environmental and social impact

Abstract

The agricultural potential of the region of La Mixteca Alta is limited by its arid climate. Agricultural practices
in the region since the second half of the twentieth century have exacerbated this problem, leading to poor soil
conditions and limited productivity. For this reason, few community members can fully support themselves
through agriculture alone. Many must seek work as transient laborers in nearby cities.
A pilot workshop to build a treadle pump was conducted in January of 2014 in the community of San Miguel
Huautla. The treadle pump was considered easy to build by the community and many found it to be useful in
agricultural activities. The general concern, however, was with the cost of the device.
This paper delineates the treadle pump as a sustainable simple technology and examines the products
sustainability and the feasibility of a larger scale project including its environmental and social impacts.

Introduction

The region of La Mixteca Alta, in the state of

Oaxaca, in Southern Mexico covers an area of
about 36 square miles and is located at 17 44
latitude north and 97o 08 longitude west. The
community is 53 miles northeast of Oaxaca de
Jurez and 20 miles northwest of Asuncin
Nochixtln (Fig. 1). The region is mountainous,
with elevations ranging from 1800 to 2800 meters
and characterized by steep slopes and escarpments.
The landscape is marked by ridges, fissures,
sinkholes and other features.
At higher altitudes the climate is temperate subhumid with an average temperature of 18 degrees
Celsius and little seasonal variation. The climate at
lower altitudes is temperate semiarid. Rainfall
ranges from 600 to 800 mm annually, falling
primarily in the summer, May through September.
Less than 5% of the annual precipitation occurs in
the winter, October through April.
Two different agricultural practices are
common in the region. During the summer
months, rain-fed agriculture predominates. During
the dry winter months, dry farming techniques are

used to produce crops such as corn, wheat, and oats

that have lower water requirements. Use of these
techniques enables communities in the region to
maximize their production capacity by utilizing the
moisture retained in the soil from the rainy months.
When used, the most common irrigation method is
flood irrigation.
Current agricultural practices in the region are
constrained by lack of resources and technology.
Most members of the communities are subsistence
farmers, with families managing their own land
plots without modern equipment, sometimes
relying on the assistance of neighbors. Most
farming techniques are passed on generation to
generation and community members do not have
sufficient access to new techniques and methods.
Income from activities within the community
only partially covers basic needs. During months of
low agricultural productivity, heads of the
household emigrate to look for jobs outside of the
region, primarily to the cities of Oaxaca, Puebla,
Nochixtlan, or Mexico City. This emigration brings
most of the earnings into the community. Women
stay in the community to take care of the household
during this period.
3

Figure 1. Map of San Miguel Huautla in the region of La Mixteca Alta. Source: Universidad
Tecnologica de La MIxteca (UTM)

San Miguel Huautla is favorably located within

the regional watershed. A number of springs exist
in the area, and are often used as sources of gravitydriven water system for household consumption
and agriculture purposes. In 2010, approximately
half of the homes had direct access to water
(CEDICAM, 2011).
Approximately 80% of the homes currently
have electrical energy through access to an energy
distribution system. Current projects are expanding
this network to include all of the homes in the
community. Most homes have latrines or dry
latrines, with a minority also having septic tanks. A
health office is located in the center of town.
Approximately 70% of the community is literate.
Of the 30% of the community that is not literate,
70% are women and 30% are men.
The region of La Mixteca Alta is currently
served by CEDICAM, a local non-profit

organization. CEDICAM currently engages

communities in the region in an effort to create a
holistic program for municipal development
through improvements in agriculture. This
organization is a participant in this project, and
their role will be discussed further below.
CEDICAM has worked in the La Mixteca Alta
region for over twenty years. The NGO works
closely with twelve communities in the region and
has implemented projects ranging from
reforestation, soil erosion barriers, food and basic
needs programs and the Escuela de Campo, or
Field School. Once a week, CEDICAM
representatives carry out a workshop in each of the
communities sharing information on composting
and fertilizing, rotation farming, irrigation and
other agricultural topics.
Within each community, farmers that are more
engaged in these activities are called promoters. There
4

are usually between three to ten promoters in each

community. They are usually local leaders and serve
as an important link between the NGO and the rest
of the community. Promoters are also the first to
try out new compost and fertilizers, and to be the
beneficiaries of the different programs the NGO
implements. They also serve as examples in the
communities and help steer local opinion on
proposed interventions.

Methodology

After a trip to the region in 2012, a group of

engineers joined forces to develop a number of
simple solutions that could be implemented at a
low cost, using local materials, and simple enough
to be reproduced by the local community. These
technologies are shared in the form of workshops
with key community members, and will allow the
community to produce crops year-round, bringing
additional income to the region and reducing
dependency on income from transient labor.
The group established a partnership with the
local non-profit organization, CEDICAM, prior to
the first trip to the country. CEDICAM has since
been a source of technical and social data as well as
a link between the group and the community of San
Miguel Huautla.
In this section, the three phases of the project
are described along with the methods and
assessments done that enabled the group to make a
recommendation and address the problem faced by
farmers in the region.
The project consists of three phases. In phase I,
technical and community assessments were made
(see Appendix A). Based on data collected during
the assessment, a number of recommended
measures were developed to quantifiably improve
the agricultural output of the region. Upon review
by community leaders and CEDICAM, it was
determined that phase II would consist of building
a treadle pump prototype as a pilot project. In
phase III, success of the treadle pump

implementation will be measured and verified, and

next steps will be determined. If necessary, this will
lead back to the first phase of the project (Figs. 2 &
3).

Phase I- Initial Assessment

The first phase of the project consists of the

following steps. Potential measures were evaluated
after the site survey and related research. A physical
survey conducted in January, 2013, included soil
and water tests, as well as notation of topographical
features, with locations of interest marked with a
GPS system. Community focus groups were
conducted to develop an understanding of cultural
practices and community priorities.
The site survey was supplemented and
informed by the research conducted through two
means. Most importantly, through direct interviews
and discussions with the local NGO and
educational centers, a solid understanding of the
region was developed. Previous documentation by
and conversations with these individuals were used
to provide a more well-rounded description of the
state of the environment and current projects in
development in the region.
Additionally, general research was done on the
various measures that were considered for the
project. Current best practices in similar
environments were considered, and all options that
fit within the technological capacity of the region
were investigated. Based on the information
gathered through this system, a baseline was
determined.
The following assumptions were made in
developing this report:
The local climate will remain the same into the
near future.
Agricultural production needs will remain
stable into the near future.
Community organizations will remain intact
and available as resources.

Figure 2. Project Cycle Diagram. Phases I and II have been completed

Figure 3. Program's Baseline and Monitoring Cycle Diagram

Current costs provided by vendors are

reasonable approximations
Finally, based on feedback from the
community and local NGO the treadle pump was
chosen as the first intervention to be brought to the
community. The treadle pump is relatively
inexpensive and requires minimal maintenance. It
meets an immediate need for water pumping and
fits in with programs recently launched in the
region such as drip irrigation systems, rainwater
catchment tanks and distribution of vegetable
seeds.
Once the technology was chosen, the group
selected a design and modified it to meet local need
and resource availability.

The Treadle Pump

The suction-pump design chosen for this project is

simple, portable. Modifications were made to the
design to meet local material availability. In this
section the pumps main design components, its
mechanical advantage, volume capacity, input force
required, pressure head limits, discharge capacity
and priming are discussed.

Design Components
The treadle pumps parts include pistons and
cylinders, frame and treadles, check valves (nonreturn valves) and a pulley system. All of its
assembly instructions and specifications can be
found in Appendix B of this document. A list of
materials and costs is also available.

Frame and Treadles

The frame is made of one inch wood sheets cut into
braces, mast, base, handles and treadles. The frame
holds all of the parts of the pump together with
wood screws and steel rods. Wood glue may be
added to strengthen the structure. The treadles are
used to impart motion to the pump. Each treadle is
hinged onto the rear end of the frame and
suspended by the pulley system at the front. The
long treadles provide a mechanical advantage to the
machine facilitating the operation of the pump (see
the Mechanical Advantage section).

Check Valves
Check valves, or non-return valves, work by
allowing water to flow in one direction while
preventing backflow. Two check valves are
connected to each piston. Each piston has one
inflow and one outflow valve. Once the system is
filled with water (primed), the operator can take
breaks and resume treadling at any later point
without having to refill the system with water each
time.

Pulley System
The pulley system is composed of two pulley
wheels and a thin metal rope (band). The rope
connects the two treadles allowing for alternating
up and down movements. The pulley system
provides a mechanical advantage to the machine
(discussed in the Mechanical Advantage section).

Piston and Cylinder

To make the outer shell of the piston, a hydraulic
PVC pipe is used. A cap is placed on the bottom
and sealed with PVC glue. The pistons are
composed of flattened PVC discs layered with
sealing leather discs of slightly larger diameter, held
together by a threaded metal rod that pierces the
layers of discs through the center and connects the
piston to the treadles. The pistons move up and
down when each pedal is pushed down.

Mechanical Advantage
In determining the performance of any machine,
the ratio of the force () applied to it and the force
produced by it is important. There are a number of
mechanisms, or simple machines, that promote
better mechanical performance, but, in the case of
the treadle pump the two main mechanisms
involved are the lever and the pulley system.

Equation 1. Ideal Mechanical Advantage of a Lever

Lever Principle
The lever works by transferring any force applied
to a rigid board over a certain distance, ultimately
exerting force onto the target object. The force
exerted on the lever by a machine or human being
is called the input force, or effort force. The force
exerted on the target object is called the output
force, or resistance (Fig. 4). The distance between
the fulcrum, or pivot, and the point of input force
is called the effort arm. The distance between the
pivot and the point of output force is called the
resistance arm. The ratio between the effort arm
and the resistance arm gives the Ideal Mechanical
Advantage (IMA) of the lever (Equation 1).

2 22
=
= .
1
9

Pulley Principle
The pulleys Ideal Mechanical Advantage can be
determined, in this case, by the ratio between the
work exerted ( ), pulling the belt downward, and
the work to lift the belt ( ). Here work is defined
simply
as
force
()
multiplied
by
displacement (). The work involved in a pulley
system is composed of the load force ( ) or the
force exerted( ), multiplied by the displacement
() of the load. It is impossible to determine the
exact force applied since the machine will be used
by people of different weights, heights and physical
fitness levels. However, in this system, the effort
force applied to the pulleys is equal to the force
required to lift the load. This leads to = .
Similarly, the displacement on both sides of the
pulley system is the same, = (Equation 2).
Equation 2. Ideal Mechanical Advantage of Pulleys

=
Figure 4. Treadle Pump picture showing input and output forces

Table 1. Dimensions of treadle components

Treadle Pump Information

treadle board

36 in.

91.4 cm

pivot location

1 in.

2.5 cm

d1

9 in.

22.9 cm

d2

22 in

55.9 cm

Equation 3. Total Ideal Mechanical Advantage

=
= . = .

Cylinder Lift Capacity per Stroke

Figure 5. Picture demonstrating load and exerted

forces applied to pedals

Finally, the total Ideal Mechanical Advantage of

the treadle pump can be calculated by multiplying
the mechanical advantage of the lever by the
mechanical advantage of the pulley (Equation 3).
The suggested mechanical advantage of a
treadle pump ranges from 0.5 to 4 (Fao.org, 2005).
For the design discussed in this paper, the
mechanical advantage may be increased slightly by
placing the pistons farther back in the direction of
the treadle hinges. During construction of this
prototype, the pistons check valves were placed at
a larger angle making it unable to fit within the rear
braces. For this reason, the pistons were placed
closer to the feet of the operator, decreasing the
mechanical advantage ratio of the lever.

The pistons water lift volume is calculated by

multiplying the area of the crossection of the piston
cylinder by the pistons stroke length (Fig. 6). Due
to the placement of the feet on the treadles, the foot
stroke and the piston stroke are different. The
treadles for this machine are aligned to keep the
foot stroke at a comfortable range of 4 to 14 inches.
If the stroke is too long, the operators leg muscles
will strain. If the stroke is too short, the individual
will need to treadle more times, or faster, to
produce the same volume of water (Fao.org, 2000).
Depending on the pumping head, a shorter or
longer stroke will be chosen. The pistons stroke
has a 5 inch maximum range.

Figure 6. Pedals are leveled before adjusting pulley belt length.

not be used. All calculations are made in a per

stroke basis.

Pressure Head and Force

Figure 6. Illustration of Pistons highlighting Stroke

Length (based on empirical test)
Table 2. Dimensions of Piston Cylinder

Piston Cylinder and Stroke Information

10.2 cm
Diameter, D
4 in.
22.9 cm
Length, l
9 in.
5.1 cm
Minimum Stroke
2 in.
Maximum Stroke
Stroke Length, sl

7 in.
5 in.

17.8 cm
12.7 cm

Equation 4. Cylinder Lift Volume (CLV) Equation for

Treadle Pump

= (2 )
()
= 2
= 0.01 2 0.13
= 9.95 104

Cadence and Foot Input Force

According to the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), a cadence of 60 cycles per
minute (one foot moves up and down, once, per
cycle) is comfortable for most people. However,
during testing of the prototype, it was determined
that this cadence could only be maintained for 2- 5
minutes, on average, making it an impractical
reference cadence for sustained pumping. Because
cadence is variable and cannot be determined with
precision for calculations, for the purposes of this
paper, the standard cadence proposed by FAO will

The minimum and maximum required foot forces

were not empirically determined for this machine.
However, adults with weights within a range of
620N and 800N operated the prototype pump on
site with relative ease and moderate effort. It is
recommended that the force used on the treadles
not exceed 50% of the operators weight for more
comfortable sustained pumping.
Utilizing data from a recent study on the
average height and weight of the Mexican
population, the minimum and maximum forces
required to operate the pump were determined.
Table 3 contains an extended range of possible
weights of the treadle pump operator.
This treadle pump is designed to be portable
and, therefore, can be placed within a myriad of
locations with respect to the water source and
desired output location. There are, however,
limitations to positioning the machine.
Based on the distance and depth of the source
and/or outlet of water, table 4 was developed to
show an approximation of the force required to
operate the treadle pump comfortably. The
distances and depths shown in the table can be used
for the treadle pump with respect to source and
outlet independently- from source to pump or
from pump to outlet, or combined, by summing the
total length and/or depth from source to outlet.
To calculate the values in table 4, the hydraulic
energy equation, along with the sum of major head
losses through the hoses and slope ratios for
distance and depth were calculated. Minor losses
such as losses due to flow through check valves
were assumed negligible.

10

Table 4. Forces required for comfortable sustained operation of the treadle pump

For persons of weights 114-174 lbs (based on Mexico's average height of 5'4" for males) **

weight (lbs)
114
124
134
144
154
164
174
184
194
204
214

-> kg
52
56
61
65
70
74
79
83
88
93
97

Weight (N)
507
552
596
641
685
730
774
819
863
908
952

%50 of W (N)
254
276
298
320
343
365
387
409
432
454
476

**Cherem, M. et al (2012). Cuanto mide Mexico Web. Retrieved from

http://www.canaive.org.mx/detalleNoticias.php?id_nota=832

Table 3. Chart to determined Force (N) required to pump based on distance (m) versus depth (m) of treadle pump

Depth (m)

Distance from treadle pump (m)

0

10

48.1

101.1

154.1

207.1

260.2

313.2

366.2

419.2

472.2

525.2

578.3

178.2

200.1

243.7

292.8

343.7

395.5

447.6

500.0

552.6

605.2

658.0

308.2

320.7

352.1

393.3

439.3

487.7

537.5

588.2

639.4

691.0

742.9

438.3

446.9

470.4

504.2

544.3

588.4

634.9

683.0

732.2

782.2

832.7

568.4

574.9

593.4

621.4

656.2

695.8

738.6

783.7

830.5

878.4

927.3

698.4

703.7

718.8

742.5

772.8

808.2

847.4

889.4

933.5

979.2

1026.1

Force required (N)

Discharge Capacity
Because of the variability in cadence from operator
to operator, it is very difficult to determine the
volume flow rate delivered by a treadle pump. In
this paper, the flow rate has been established as one
stroke instead of a unit of time such as a second,
minute or hour. A stroke is defined as the pushing
down on one piston. A cycle is defined as two
strokes, or, the pushing down on both pistons
consecutively. With one stroke, approximately one

liter of water is discharged from the piston outlet

(assuming the pistons have already been primed
and the whole system is filled with water),
according to the calculation shown in the Cylinder
Volume Lift Capacity section of this paper.

Suction Lift and Delivery

The treadle pump used in this project contains a
suction hose and a delivery hose. Through the
suction hose water may be lifted from a well
11

directly below the pump or it may be lifted from a

source located away from the pump in any number
of combinations of depth and distance from the
pump. The limits of depth and distance from the
source are based on physical limitations of the
machine and, most importantly, on limitations of
the human body.
The principle behind suction lift is based on the
atmospheric pressure that pushes water up through
a pipe or straw to fill the vacuum created from the
air that has been sucked out. In theory, the limit to
the water column that can be pushed up by
atmospheric pressure is 10 meters. In practice, this
limit is much lower because it is very difficult to
create a perfect vacuum (Fig 8).

combinations of distance and depth of the water

source that would be feasible for this treadle pump.

Priming before First Use

Priming a treadle pump means filling its system
(piston cylinders and hoses) with water before
pumping can begin. If air bubbles are left in the
system the pump efficiency will be limited,
especially when pressure in the pistons is high (i.e.
if depth of water source is large the suction pressure
is greater).
The most effective way to prime the pump
being discussed in this paper is by filling the system
with water, manually. This can be accomplished by
filling each cylinder with water from a bucket until
the outlet hoses are filled then completing priming
by connecting the pump to the source and continue
actual pumping until inlet hoses are filled. Once the
system is free of air pockets it does not require repriming. Because the treadle pump chosen is
portable, it may be placed closer to the source for
easier priming and then taken to its final location
for continued pumping.

Prototype Performance
Figure 7. Vacuum Pressure Illustration. Source: Marispumps.
Web. http://www.marispumps.com/blog/how-does-an-endsuction-pump-work. Retrieved April 2014.

In addition to the vertical lift limitation,

horizontal suction is also limited by friction losses
in the hose. Parameters for maximum length and
depth of water source in relation to the treadle
pump were calculated. Beyond physical limitations,
a range of weights of possible pump operators were
considered utilizing the 50% rule mentioned in the
Cadence and Foot Force section. Table 4 shows the
estimated force required for pumping in several
combinations of vertical and horizontal distances
from the source of water.
Based on the weight range of 52 kg to 97 kg (see
section Cadence and Foot Force) and respective
comfortable force input range of 254 N and 476 N,
the cells shaded in gray in table 4 show the

Treadle pumps have been built since the early

1980s and several modifications have been made
to the original design since then (Bielenberg, C. &
Hugh, A., 1995).
There is currently no standard by which to
compare the performance of different treadle
pump
designs.
However,
international
organizations have attempted to measure
performance by utilizing averages and estimations
to determine power input and output, efficiency,
and flow rate. Although these estimations are
valuable as a reference, they cannot be compared to
one another since there is no standard method for
measurement of these parameters.
As an example, to determine flow rate it is
necessary to determine the volume of water that
can be pumped from the source for any specified
unit of time. Because the flow is not continuous
and only moves through the system when the
pistons move up or down, the flow rate depends on
12

the cadence of the operator. Therefore, persons at

different fitness levels will perform at different
rates per unit of time. Additionally, depending on
the position of the machine with respect to source
and outlet of water the pressure, the force required
to push on the treadle will vary.
For this reason, this paper focuses on
measurement of flow rate on a per stroke basis
and all of the calculations are made using this
parameter. Power input/output required are not
calculated but a reference table with the force
required to pump water based on the operators
weight and considering sustained comfortable
pumping is available (see Table 4).

Pilot Implementation Results

In January of 2014, a pilot workshop was

conducted in San Miguel Huautla. Although no
more than five promoters were expected for this
first workshop, over twenty community members
attended, including women and the communitys
president.
In this section, the structure of the prototype
workshop is discussed. An account of the
challenges involved in obtaining materials locally,
the groups interaction with the workshops
attendees and construction of the treadle pump
prototype will be given. In addition, general
observations about local culture and the local
communitys response to the finished pump will be
discussed.

Obtaining Materials Locally

The group purchased 90% of the materials locally.
Part of the pistons and the check valves were
brought from the United States because of time
limitations prior to the workshop. However, all
materials used in the construction of the pistons
were found and budgeted locally. When not
available, parts were replaced with local
alternatives.
The check valves needed for construction of the
treadle pump are surprisingly expensive in the

region. The valves cost approximately five times

more locally than in the United States.

Workshop Setup
The workshop was set up to be interactive and with
the objective of completely building one treadle
pump within two four-hour sessions. The
workshop was completed in two sessions, although
each took slightly longer than planned.
In preparation, the group built a few
components of the pump to ensure there would be
enough time to complete the pump. The tools used
were provided by CEDICAM and some were
borrowed from community members. In addition,
the group prepared illustrated manuals for the
workshops attendees (see Appendix B).

Prototype Workshop
The treadle pump prototype for this project was
completely built and finished on the second
day/session of the workshop. The pump was first
taken to a local river for testing. Later, the pump
was taken to the private property of a local
community member. There, the pump was used to
pump water from a tank located at an approximate
75% slope from the pump into a smaller tank
located one meter horizontally from the pump. The
pump was used to fill a 100 gallon cistern located
one horizontal meter away from the pump.
In advance of the workshop, the group
expected attendance to be limited to the
communitys
promoters
and
CEDICAM
employees. However, in addition to community
promoters another twenty men and women from
the community attended the workshop. Many of
them were actively engaged throughout the
construction of the pump, assisting with assembly
and offering advice on several occasions (Fig. 9).

Case Study: Don Pablos Plot

Don Pablo is a promoter in San Miguel Huautla
and was an active participant in the workshop
conducted in the community in January 2014. Don
13

Pablos plot is approximately 446 2 and lies on a

20% slope. The plot is currently used for growing
vegetables and legumes during or immediately after
the rainy season (May through September). Because
of an ongoing project by CEDICAM and the
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Don Pablo was able
to install a drip irrigation system recently. The drip
irrigation system is connected to a 1000
cistern located approximately 2 above and 21
East of the plots rainwater collection pool. The
cistern is currently filled by hand (using smaller
buckets) with water from the rainwater pool or
from a nearby well.
Don Pablo expressed interest in building his
own treadle pump during the workshop and took
the group to see his plot located a few minutes from
the workshop site. Figure 9 shows a rough sketch
of the farms layout and includes a possible location
for the treadle pump. With the treadle pump
installed, Don Pablo is able to fill the tank more
efficiently.

Figure 8. Don Pablo and his son, heating hoses for plumbing
assembly.

Figure 9. Rough Sketch of Don Pablo's farm for illustration purposes..

14

Project Feasibility

To determine if this project is feasible in San Miguel

Huautla for a phase III large-scale implementation,
sustainability,
community
capacity
and
environmental impact were considered.

Sustainability
Sustainability was determined based on cost to
build, availability of materials, design, product
durability, physical limitations of the operator
community participation
and
community
dependence.

Cost to Build
Prior to arrival in La Mixteca Alta, the cost of the
treadle pump had been estimated at US$60,
however, the cost of check valves in town is five
times higher than in the United States, a difference
of about US$26 per check valve. Four check valves
are required per pump. This difference in cost is a
challenge to the sustainability of the product in the
region.

Availability of Materials
The remaining materials used in the construction of
the pump were found fairly easily in the main town
just outside of San Miguel Huautla. Wood, PVC
pipes, metal hardware and hoses are affordable
materials in the region (see Appendix B for list of
materials).

Sustainability of Design
To determine the designs sustainability, the
constructability, ease of operation, durability and
maintenance are taken into account.
The design of the treadle pump used in this
project was chosen for its simplicity. Each part of
the frame, plumbing and pulley system can be
assembled by following a manual, and a technical
background is not necessary in most cases. During
the workshop conducted in San Miguel Huautla,
the designs constructability was proven by the
attendees response and engagement in the
construction of the prototype. In addition, all of the

tools required in the assembly stage are easily

available tools such as hammers and saws. The use
of a power drill and screwdriver was not an obstacle
since they may be borrowed from other members
of the community or by the local NGO.
The ease of operation of the machine can be
determined by the operators posture while using
the pump and the amount of effort necessary to
pump. This design enables the operator to remain
in an upright position, while using the handle bar
for support of the upper body. During trial, locals
suggested the handle bars be placed higher on the
prototypes mast for comfort. An advantage of the
simple design chosen for this project is that,
variations such as placement of the handle bar can
be easily accomplished.
The durability of the treadle pump cannot yet
be determined since the project is still in its initial
phase. However, similar models have had long lives
in similar climates

Community Participation
The widespread use of the treadle pump will
depend mainly on the success of its first users. To
ensure proper construction, usage of the pump, a
team will supervise the construction of a limited
number of pumps within the community.
Representatives of the team should also remain in
the region for a minimum of 2 months to
encourage usage of the system and to attend to any
technical difficulties that arise.
The technology has been designed primarily for
use in individual plots. This is due to the water
volume per stroke capacity of the treadle pump. To
make the pump communal, a system would need to
be set up amongst the community farmers in which
a schedule was followed each day for filling up a
communal tank, or for the irrigation of a communal
plot.
The local NGO, CEDICAM, has formed a
large communal plot in the area for testing
fertilizers, seeds and irrigation methods.
CEDICAM also conducts workshops and gives
training on practices and methods found to be
effective. The prototype treadle built during the
15

January 2014 workshop has been installed in this

communal plot for further testing and
demonstrations.

Community Dependence
Based on data collected during the community
assessment in January of 2013 and a study
conducted by CEDICAM, the average family in
San Miguel Huautla has an annual income of $5500
($71,600 pesos). The total annual income includes
wages from transient work in larger cities during
non-active agricultural months, governmental
subsidies, agriculture and production of artisanal
objects made from local, naturally available,
materials.
Because of the local economic state, the average
community household could not afford to
purchase and build the treadle pump
independently. At first, direct aid in the form of
donation of materials would be necessary for the
construction of the pump. I has been determined
based on the average household income that the
minimum donation of 50% of the total cost is
necessary.

Conclusion

After a thorough technical and community

assessment in January 2013 it was determined that
international intervention and the introduction of
simple technologies to improve agricultural output
are needed in the region of La Mixteca Alta, and,
more specifically, the community of San Miguel
Huautla.
To accomplish this, the group chose to
introduce the treadle pump as a pilot project to
determine its performance, community acceptance
and feasibility of a larger scale implementation. The
introduction of the treadle pump was done through
an interactive workshop and proved to be a good
strategy for future interventions.
Upon completion of workshop and further
analysis of results it was concluded that a larger
scale introduction of the treadle pump would be
beneficial for the community at large. A larger scale
intervention would be accomplished by conducting
workshops in several communities ensuring
enough time is allocated to each community for
assistance with the placement and trouble-shooting
of the pump. In addition, an alternative source of
check-valves will be necessary to make the pump
more affordable and the community less
dependent.
Finally, the success of phase III will determine
the feasibility of this project on a large-scale.

16

Appendix A

17

Appendix B

18

References
Bielenberg, C. & Hugh, A. 1995. How to make
and use a treadle pump. UK, Intermediate
Technology Publications.

Koza, T., Zirebwa, J & Nehumai, I. 1998.

Treadle pump testing project report. Harare,
Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAE).

FAO. 2000. Treadle Pumps for Irrigation in

Africa. Knowledge Synthesis Report No.1. Rome.

Lambert, R.A. & Faulkner, R.D. 1991. The

efficient use of human energy for micro-scale
irrigation. Agric. Engineering Research, 48: 171183.

FAO. 1986. Water lifting devices, by P. Faenkel.

Irrigation and drainage paper No. 43. Rome.
Juma, C. 2011. The New Harvest: Agricultural
Innovation in Africa. Oxford University Press.
New York, USA.

Thomas, T.H. 1993. The performance testing of

treadle pumps. Working paper No. 39. UK,
University of Warwick Development.
Universidad Tecnica de La Mixteca &
CEDICAM. 2012. Caracterizacion Biofisica y
socioeconomic de San Miguel Huautla. Mexico.

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