The India Mark II Hand Pump,
a conventional lever action pump, is one of the largest selling hand
pumps across the world. The government of India along with the
continuous and considerable efforts of non-governmental, industrial and
multilateral organizations in the 1970s developed this mechanically
efficient hand pump. The
above ground mechanism comprises of the pump head, handle, water tank
and stand assemblies, and the below-ground mechanism comprises of riser
pipes, connecting rods and cylinder assembly. The pump is designed for
heavy-duty use and is capable of serving communities of up to 300
people.
This pump consists
of a pump head, pump stand and a handle made of galvanized steel. The
downhole components consist of a brass lined cast iron cylinder with a
foot valve and a plunger of brass. Since this pump is not corrosion
resistant and requires special skills and tools for maintenance along
with installation, it is not considered to be a VLOM (village level
operation and management of maintenance) pump. Thus it cannot be used in
areas with aggressive water conditions. The above ground body of the
pump is made of welded steel plates and is hot dip galvanized for
corrosion resistance. The handlebar is designed to reduce the pumping
effort of the user to a minimum since the weight of the connecting rods
is counterbalanced. The cylinder has a highly polished brass liner,
which ensures a long life of the nitrile rubber pump bucket.
The pump requires a circular operating space of 2m diameter and the
operating depth ranged from 25-90m and gives a water output of 900
liters per hour at 40 strokes per minute. The speed might vary, reaching
a maximum of 125 strokes per minute but the ideal speed remains 40
strokes per minute. The riser pipes are 32m in diameter and GI, SS, UPVC pipe variants are available.
The mark II pumps manufactured by Aakash International possess
features that differentiate them from other variants available in the
market. The pumping head, handle, pump stand, rising main and rods are
made of galvanized steel which makes them corrosion resistant, while the
pump cylinder caste and foot valve are made of brass. Also, the Indian
Bureau of Standards has been adhered to while manufacturing of this
product to ensure the provision of maximum quality to the customers.