Publication Details

PERFORMANCE TESTING ON RAM PUMP – AN AL-TERNATIVE SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN MALAYSIA

Ram pump is a rather ‘mature’ technology as it has been used over the last two centuries with many variations to design and basic conigurations have been tried. However, following the increasing awareness of the adverse impact of global warming and the needs of sustainable technology, interest in ram pump for water supply purpose has revived. Ram pump is perceived as an ideal sustainable technology as it makes use of the renewable energy source and ensures low running and maintenance cost. It is of great potential to be functioning as a simple and reliable pumping device in those hilly remote areas which are of no water supply coverage. This paper presents the performance test results of ram pump system, which was developed to be applied in Kampung Sungai Dua Olak, an indigenous people settlement situated in Bentong, Malaysia, for the establishment of a sustainable rural water supply system that is aimed to be replicated across other rural communities in the tropical region. The paper starts by drawing the framework for sustainable low-cost water supply system, followed by demonstrating the methodology, testing setup, and the results of a series of seven ram pump performance tests. It was found that ram pump could perform under different variations of water sources parameter. At the laboratory scale, it was conirmed that ram pump had its potential to provide an alternative means of water supply delivery system though not as eficient as conventional supply.