One trend in innovative ...

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One trend in innovative water technologies is SMARTechs ; (Simple, Market-based, Affordable, Repairable Technologies)

Examples of SMARTechs are manual drilling and handpumps like EMAS or Rope pumps. An example of the potential of SMARTechs is Tanzania. 10 years ago Manual drilling and Rope pumps were introduced and now there are over 3000 handrilled tube wells and over 10.000 Rope pumps installed. The shift from Machine drilled wells and imported handpumps to these locally produced technologies reduced cost of rural water points Tanzania from 4000 to 1500 US$.  The sustainability of these technologies is high since spares are low cost and locally produced.  The production is sustainable since entrepreneurs make profit and will go on after projects stop.

Entrepreneurs are trained in new technologies by so called SMART Centres in a number of African countries.

Henk Holtslag.   Advisor Low cost technologies