The JOOSTE hand pump requires less human power to operate, making it possible for children to also efficiently pump water. It is a robust and durable pump made predomi­nately from galvanised steel making it a real low mainte­nance appliance. The JOOSTE cylinder used in conjunction with the JOOSTE hand pump is made from durable stainless steel and polyurethane.

A base plate completely seals the borehole, blocking entry from dust, impurities or even rodents. It also stops contaminants such as human or animal faecal matter from seeping in during flooding. A clamp system also prevents the main shaft from dropping down the borehole.

An automatic chlorine dispenser can be added to the JOOSTE hand pump to kill bacteria, E-coli and faecal coli­forms that may be present in the water causing dysentery.

The JOOSTE hand pump can lift water 10 meters above the surface from a depth of 60 meters. The JOOSTE Force hand pump is designed to discharge water into elevated tanks or to pump it uphill. It can also be used to pump water from rivers, streams and canals. The product is suitable for household and rural water supply and can even be used for small-scale crop irrigation.

Statistics show that Africa is the world’s second dri­est continent after Australia. About 40% of the 1.2 billion people living in Africa do not have access to safe drinking water. Contaminated water, dehydration, and poor sanitation/ hygiene cause the deaths of 115 people every hour and at least one child under 5 years old dies in Africa every minute (UNICEF, UNDESA). These numbers can be significantly reduced by strategically in­stalling JOOSTE Hand Pumps in water-scarce villages to provide communities with ac­cess to purified, potable water for drinking and pressurized water for irrigation.

Jooste Cylinder and Pump Co. (PTY) Ltd are also in the process of developing a hy­brid solar-hand pump that can be operated by hand or solar power.