“How did I ever live without this?”

If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, then you have something in common with the users of the Soka pump, a foot-powered water pump introduced to farmers through EnterpriseWorks’ irrigation program in Ghana. As it turns out, this innovative technology has accomplished much more than watering gardens, including keeping livestock healthy, and providing hospitals and households with water. These activities do more than just serve the individual or enterprise– they benefit the entire community.

The following are three stories about people whose lives have changed because of appropriate technology.

Livestock
John Carr, a pig and poultry farmer in Ghana, used to spend many arduous hours every day rinsing his pigs, cleaning their pens, and bringing them drinking water. Some of the work just couldn’t get done. The result? His pigs, clearly uncomfortable, would not lie down on the dirty floors.
That was all before he bought his first Soka pump in April 2003. Now the entire job takes just 30 minutes. Mr. Carr’s pens are neat, and his pigs are happy. One of his assistants reports, “Now that I have the pump, the job has become very easy. The time saved is spent on the poultry section, which also needed attention, especially with the brooding of the day-old chicks.”

In addition to convenience and greater productivity, improved hygiene has led to a dramatic reduction in disease among the animals.

Many of Mr. Carr’s friends have been impressed with the impact made by his new tool, and plan to buy their own. As for Mr. Carr, he has since bought a second Soka pump, which he is using exclusively for watering and cleaning at his poultry farm.

Hospitals and Clinics
Seven hours a day – that’s how long Dr. Amoah, a physician in Aworshie (near Accra), spent drawing water from his well instead of treating people at his clinic. He not only used precious time, but also spent about $35 (USD) a month getting the necessary amount of water to his clinic and a nearby hospital.

Dr. Amoah invested in a Soka pump and now he has more than three times as much time to treat his patients. He also significantly reduced his water costs, spending less than one dollar per month on lubricant to keep the pump working smoothly.

Dr. Amoah is thrilled with his pump, because it has reduced the burden of traveling long distances for water and mitigates the regular water shortages usually experienced in his area. And needless to say, his patients are happy as well.

Domestic Purposes
Providing water to households, irrigating small family vegetable gardens, cooking and cleaning are all ways that a treadle pump can benefit a domestic household. Mr. Kobbi, a gentleman from the outskirts of Kumasi, purchased a pump to create more time to do work within his household.

Mr. Kobbi says that the pump has not only made getting water more efficient – 10 minutes out of his day instead of an hour – it has also increased the quality of the water in his home.** In fact, even the neighbors come over to fetch water, some of which they’ve used to cook and sell koko and Tuo Zaafi, two local specialties.

Kobbi generously allows his neighbors to benefit from his pump free of charge, and in turn, the local economy gets a boost. It’s proof that appropriate technologies can have far-reaching benefits for households, businesses, and entire communities.

** The Soka pump is designed as an irrigation pump, not specifically for potable water. Click here to read about EWW’s potable water pilot program in Niger.