Training Module On Operation And Maintenance Of Pumps In Rural Water Supply Systems

Think your fire pumps are just like the rest of your fluid movers? Think again. Rigorous standards and certifications make sure these life-savers are up to snuff

INTRODUCTION : 1.1 Why water treatment? Pure water [H2O] is a colourless, odourless and tasteless liquid. It plays a huge part in everyday life: 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water in the form of oceans, and the rest of the planet has large quantities of water in the form of lakes, rivers and watercourses, ice and snow, and humidity, as well as the principal element of animal life (>50%) and plants (approx. 80%). When we talk about water in general, we usually mean water for some specific purpose, e.g. drinking water or process water for industry. This is where the term water treatment comes into the picture, as the available water resources or that provided by nature is not always of a suitable quality for immediate use for the specific purpose. Drinking water must be pure, and should preferably taste good too, and it must not contain substances that could cause problemswith daily use. Process water, which is water that forms a direct and important part of a process or product in industry, must have a chemical composition and temperature that is precisely suited to the specific requirements.

Purpose of this Guide to pump procurement This Guide provides an introduction to the very complex subject of the selection of pumps. It is aimed at anyone who wishes to purchase or select a pump and, at the same time, wishes to save money on their energy bill. Almost invariably, this saving will be far more than the first cost of the pump. The reader may be the end user, a contractor, or a consultant. This Guide provides the reader with the basic principles of pump procurement, giving pointers to the pump type and performance they should consider. Pumps are divided into their main types, then their basic construction and performance are considered, their principal applications are described, the basic principles of pump selection are explained and, last but not least, target efficiencies are set to help minimize energy usage. The hope is that both pump users and the environment will benefit.