Proximity Designs Red Rhino Pump

Proximity Designs

The Red Rhino Water Pump is a mobile, foot-operated pump that allows the user to apply a stepping motion, similar to an elliptical, to draw up water from a well.

Discontinued

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The Red Rhino Water Pump is a mobile, suction, foot-operated pump that allows the user to apply a stepping motion, similar to an elliptical, to draw up water from a well. It is a relatively small treadle pump with a suction depth of 7 m. Proximity Designs designed the pump in Myanmar for local farmers as part of its Yetagon range of farm technology products.

As of September 2020, this product is discontinued.^{Interview with representative}

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Myanmar

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Proximity Designs

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

$31 USD

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

IDE Treadle Pump, Rocker Water Pump, Vergnet-Hydro 60-2000 Pump, KickStart MoneyMaker Max Pump, Futurepump SF1 Solar Pump

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 1: No poverty

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Underserved rural families and rural farmers

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Mass produced. Components for the irrigation products are sourced from suppliers in Myanmar, or made in the Proximity factory in Yangon.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Unknown

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Direct from manufacturer, credit available. The product is also available through a network of village agents who work on commission and family-run agro-dealers in towns.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

44,455 red rhino pumps have been sold since 2004.

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Pump type

Description of the pump type

Human powered treadle pump

Irrigation capacity (acre)

Land size irrigation capacity, measured in acres

1 acre

Maximum flow rate (L/min)

The amount of water discharged, measured in liters per minute

~83 L/min

Maximum lift/head (m)

Maximum length of pipe from pump to the raised tank, measured in meters

7.5 m

Required pressure (MPa)

The amount of pressure required to pump water, measured in MPa

Unknown

Maximum distance from water source (m)

The maximum length of pipe from the water source, measured in meters

1 m

Power source

Type of energy used to power the pump

Manual

Power requirement: Max power (W)

Maximum power requirement, measured in watts

N/A

Power requirement: Max motor current (A)

Maximum motor current, measured in amperes

N/A

Power requirement: Voltage range (V)

Power required to run the pump, measured in voltage

N/A

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Design specifications

A no-fuss, long-lasting, totally mobile foot-powered water pump.
A treadle pump operator stands on two metal or wooden treadles and steps using an action similar to a step exercise-machine.
The treadles drive a pump connected to a tube well, which is a length of robust plastic pipe sunk into the ground until it reaches the water table.
The pump has a maximum depth of about 7.5 metres and deliver up to 5 m³ per hour.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Installation and maintenance can be done by the user. Promoters, agents and distributors get annual training on installation and maintenance and are expected to train users at the time of purchase. Products are designed so that users can install and maintain them without specialised tools, although an agent can help them for a small charge.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Available with purchase, the initial price of the pump includes spare rubber washers and valves, which need regular replacement.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

The pumps have a 1 year warranty, but are said to last for at least 4 years.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Flow rate is said to up to 5 m³ per hour.
By using Red rhino pump, it is estimated that farmers can increase net household income by around US$250 per year.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

No third-party testing has been performed, however one farmer reported as part of the manufacturer’s monitoring a 6 times increase in plant production in one year, tripling her income.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Proximity Designs carries out rigorous testing on their prototypes in their lab and in the field while working hand in hand with Myanmar farmers for feedback and iteration.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

No specified safety precautions.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

Through Proximity Finance they provide growers with ongoing access to credit for irrigation and solar products. Farmers can pay cash or take out a short-term loan from Proximity, which adds about 10% to the total cost. The loan can be just for the cost of the irrigation products, or can include cash to buy agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizer.

Farmers can also purchase other complementary farm technology products in Proximity Design’s Yetagon range such as sprinkler and drip irrigation systems.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Hawkins, J., 2014, Honouring innovation. Renewable Energy Focus, 15(3), pp. 40-43.

Keller, J., Keller, A.A. and Rye, J.N., 2011. Small-plot Irrigation Products, Design, and Dissemination. Technical Presentation: 2011 Louisville, Kentucky, August 7-10, 2011, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, p. 1.

Richards, L.J., 2012, Simple designs remove drudgery. Appropriate Technology, 39(2), p. 53.

Rowell, B., Soe, M.L. and Khine, T.T., 2013, Low pressure drip irrigation for commercial vegetables in Myanmar. SEAVEG 2012 High Value Vegetables in Southeast Asia: Production, Supply and Demand, p. 135.

Rowell, B. and Soe, M.L., 2015, Design, introduction, and extension of low-pressure drip irrigation in Myanmar. HortTechnology, 25(4), pp. 422-436.

Shah, T., Alam, M., Dinesh, M., Nagar, R.K. and Mahendra, S., 2000, Pedaling out of poverty: social impact of a manual irrigation technology in South Asia. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International water management institute, Research report No. 45.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Proximity Designs claim that their prototypes undergo rigorous testing that simulates thousands of hours of use in rugged terrain. They are then sent to Myanmar farmers for further evaluation.

Other information

Ashden Design Award winners

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

As of September 2020, this product is discontinued.^{Interview with representative}

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Myanmar

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Proximity Designs

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

$31 USD

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

IDE Treadle Pump, Rocker Water Pump, Vergnet-Hydro 60-2000 Pump, KickStart MoneyMaker Max Pump, Futurepump SF1 Solar Pump

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 1: No poverty

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Underserved rural families and rural farmers

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Mass produced. Components for the irrigation products are sourced from suppliers in Myanmar, or made in the Proximity factory in Yangon.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Unknown

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Direct from manufacturer, credit available. The product is also available through a network of village agents who work on commission and family-run agro-dealers in towns.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

44,455 red rhino pumps have been sold since 2004.

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Pump type

Description of the pump type

Human powered treadle pump

Irrigation capacity (acre)

Land size irrigation capacity, measured in acres

1 acre

Maximum flow rate (L/min)

The amount of water discharged, measured in liters per minute

~83 L/min

Maximum lift/head (m)

Maximum length of pipe from pump to the raised tank, measured in meters

7.5 m

Required pressure (MPa)

The amount of pressure required to pump water, measured in MPa

Unknown

Maximum distance from water source (m)

The maximum length of pipe from the water source, measured in meters

1 m

Power source

Type of energy used to power the pump

Manual

Power requirement: Max power (W)

Maximum power requirement, measured in watts

N/A

Power requirement: Max motor current (A)

Maximum motor current, measured in amperes

N/A

Power requirement: Voltage range (V)

Power required to run the pump, measured in voltage

N/A

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Design specifications

A no-fuss, long-lasting, totally mobile foot-powered water pump.
A treadle pump operator stands on two metal or wooden treadles and steps using an action similar to a step exercise-machine.
The treadles drive a pump connected to a tube well, which is a length of robust plastic pipe sunk into the ground until it reaches the water table.
The pump has a maximum depth of about 7.5 metres and deliver up to 5 m³ per hour.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Available with purchase, the initial price of the pump includes spare rubber washers and valves, which need regular replacement.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

The pumps have a 1 year warranty, but are said to last for at least 4 years.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Flow rate is said to up to 5 m³ per hour.
By using Red rhino pump, it is estimated that farmers can increase net household income by around US$250 per year.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

No third-party testing has been performed, however one farmer reported as part of the manufacturer’s monitoring a 6 times increase in plant production in one year, tripling her income.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Proximity Designs carries out rigorous testing on their prototypes in their lab and in the field while working hand in hand with Myanmar farmers for feedback and iteration.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

No specified safety precautions.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

Farmers can also purchase other complementary farm technology products in Proximity Design’s Yetagon range such as sprinkler and drip irrigation systems.

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Hawkins, J., 2014, Honouring innovation. Renewable Energy Focus, 15(3), pp. 40-43.

Richards, L.J., 2012, Simple designs remove drudgery. Appropriate Technology, 39(2), p. 53.

Rowell, B. and Soe, M.L., 2015, Design, introduction, and extension of low-pressure drip irrigation in Myanmar. HortTechnology, 25(4), pp. 422-436.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Proximity Designs claim that their prototypes undergo rigorous testing that simulates thousands of hours of use in rugged terrain. They are then sent to Myanmar farmers for further evaluation.

Other information

Ashden Design Award winners

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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Proximity Designs Red Rhino Pump