Water wheel pump system
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2011-05-17 15:51 Updated: 2021-11-02 15:37
Compilers: Sa'dy Odinashoev
Reviewers: Alexandra Gavilano, David Streiff, Joana Eichenberger
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Tajikistan
- Region/ State/ Province: Sughd
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Penjakent, Toshminor
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
A water wheel that powers a pump that provides water to an orchard further upslope.
Detailed description of the Technology
After the end of the Soviet era the mass irrigation system fell into disrepair, and many of the orchard areas subsequently suffered from dehydration and production levels declined. The case study plot is situated on a steep slope of 50° with stone/sand soils with high filtration rates.
As the irrigation systems no longer worked, the orchard in the Penjikent area lost much productivity and became very dry. As the quality of the soil is very poor the trees need much irrigation. The farmer often resorted to using a bucket to irrigate the orchards.
The land user developed a water powered pump using the flow from the existing river to pump water along a plastic pipe to the orchards. The pump can irrigate the orchard 200m above the river level. To help improve the process and regulate irrigation amount a large tank was installed in the orchard.
Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of the pump is to provide water 220m upslope to irrigate the orchards at minimal running costs, and not to be reliant on the often intermittent electricity supply.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The setting up the water wheel, pump, gear system, valves and piping system requires a certain level of technical knowledge. However, it is apparent that if you have a fast flowing river, water can be diverted to power a water wheel and a pump. Technical knowledge of the gearing will be required set up the ratios depending on the speed required for the water wheel.
Natural / human environment: In this area the very sandy soil, suffers from high infiltration rates and low water retention capacity. It is, therefore, unfavourable for growing any sort of water dependent crops. The water pump, albeit expensive in its initial financial expenditure does allow for irrigation of land, that would otherwise become increasingly denuded and degraded. The demise of the Soviet irrigation system means that the land users have had to invent and discover new innovative ways to irrigate the land.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Toshminor, Sghud, Penjakent
- 📷 Sa'dy Odinashoev (Tajikistan, Muminabad)
- 📍 Toshminor, Suhgd, Penjakent
- 📷 Sa'dy Odinashoev (Tajikistan, Muminabad)