Mono NOV, Europe's leading designer and manufacturer of pumps, parts, grinders, screens and packaged systems, has teamed up with Southlands High School in Chorley, Lancashire, to bring running water to a school in The Gambia.
The project was developed by teachers and pupils at Southlands High School, who raised enough money to purchase one of Mono's innovative solar pumps, which are designed to run in remote locations, where electric and diesel power is unavailable. Mono sent a team out to The Gambia to install the pump, accompanied by teachers and pupils from the school. Within a week they were able to bring running water to Bijilo Lower Basic School to vastly improve sanitation in the staff toilets and near the children's latrines, as well as water for its 'kitchen garden'. Three standpipes were also installed to provide water for the local community.
Previously, the grueling task of pumping and transporting water to the garden had been the responsibility of the Gambian school children. Several times a day they were required to walk to a pump to collect water and then carry it back to the garden in a bucket.
Mark Viner, Mono's Sales Manager for the UK, was part of the Mono team that went over to The Gambia to install the 'Sun-Sub' system, PC pump and control panel. He commented: "Our solar pump has been used in similar applications across Africa, so we knew it was the perfect solution for the school and we were happy to contribute to such a worthwhile project in any way we could.
"It was very fulfilling to be able to see the project through to the end and experience first hand the difference that this project has made to the local school children and wider community."
Before their trip to The Gambia, the group of pupils from Southlands High School that are behind the project visited Mono's manufacturing facility to learn more about how a Mono pump is made, how it works and how the company is using this innovative technology to help other African countries.
The Sun-Sub, which incorporates a range of technically advanced features, consists of four main units -- a solar array, a controller, a submersible brushless DC motor and a positive displacement pump.
The system utilises solar modules, which are manufactured from high efficiency monocrystalline silicon cells. These modules can be mounted on a stationary array, but are more frequently mounted on a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) tracking array, which is designed to track the sun throughout the day.
The GPS tracking array ensures that the solar panels are always facing the sun and the GPS sensor provides precise latitude, longitude and time (operating on GMT), enabling the controller to always position the solar array correctly. The GPS system is so effective, it can produce 30% more water per day.
The Sun-Sub will only pump as long as water is needed and will stop once tanks and troughs are full, preventing wastage of water or excess wear of the pump. It also returns to its starting point at the end of the day, ready for dawn the next day and will continue to track the sun even in overcast conditions, waiting for a break in the clouds.
Carrying out a variety of fundraising activities, such as raffles, cake sales and non uniform days; Southlands High School was able to raise enough money to cover the cost of the Mono solar pump, as well as their continuing support providing mid day meals for the pupils at the Gambian school.
Based in Manchester, Mono NOV is a leading designer and manufacturer of pumps, parts, grinders, screens and packaged systems in Europe.
National Oilwell Varco is a leading provider of oilfield products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry.
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