Solar powered pumps improve lives in Tanzania

Children collecting water at the new water pumps

2 September 2009: Plan has installed a new solar powered water system in Ifakara, Tanzania - helping to make long queues for water a thing of the past.

The project uses solar panels and automatic pumps to extract water more efficiently from the area’s 4 boreholes.

Before the new system, water was drawn from the boreholes in a slow and laborious manor using manually-operated hand pumps. Locals would have to scramble and queue to collect water from a single water point at each borehole.

At peak times (morning and evening), there were up to 100 people, including school children, queuing for water.

Renewable energy

As part of a wider community water and sanitation programme, Plan’s programme unit in Ifakara replaced the old hand pumps.

Using renewable energy from the sun, water is now drawn up from the boreholes into reservoirs, from where it flows to different water points in and around the school compounds.

Wide reach

Solar panels, suspended on poles, power the water pumps

The area’s 4 boreholes originally catered for 4 local primary schools, serving the water needs of 68 teachers and 3,423 pupils. With the improved system, the 4 boreholes now serve over 10,000 more people who live around the school community.

The water is needed for a wide range of uses, including drinking, washing, irrigating and for construction.

School hygiene

Most importantly, the project has had a huge impact on local school hygiene and sanitation, by making it possible to install hand washing facilities in school toilets.

Tatu Rashid, the assistant head teacher of Lipangala Primary School, believes the project has “sanitised the school environment” and that the proper flushing toilets will help to minimise diarrhoea cases among pupils.

Another critical outcome has been improved lesson attendance in schools. Previously, children would miss large parts of lessons simply queuing to get water. With the queues now gone, children are able to spend more time in school receiving their education.

Find out more about Plan's work in Tanzania.

Learn about Plan's global water and sanitation programmes.