Sustain installs Grundfos SQFlex solar PV pumps in Ghana
Wrington, UK, 10 June 2005: Two communities in Ghana are enjoying new supplies of clean fresh water courtesy of solar power and Sustain’s commitment to sustainable development. The Bristol-based energy environment consultancy and its partner – Grundfos Pumps A/S, has donated and installed two of the latest Grundfos SQFlex solar powered water pumps to the Hwereso and Maase Brofoyeduro villages in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
Over 50% of Ghanaians lack access to clean water. Traditional hand pumps require labour intensive efforts often by the women and children of the villages meaning they suffer from the back-breaking work or miss out on valuable education.
As part of their programme of corporate social responsibility, Sustain identified low maintenance solar-powered pumps as providing a valuable service, which deliver multiple benefits in line with the country’s poverty alleviation strategy and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.
“Access to clean water has numerous benefits, from lowering the infant mortality rate to improving farming production through irrigation,” said chief executive officer Tony Nec. “We wanted to use our expertise to benefit some communities who need a helping hand to get them off the bottom rung of development.”
Having visited the sites and met the Ashanti King in March, Sustain engineer Kwabena Osei spent eight weeks in March, April and May receiving and installing the pumps which will deliver in total 25000 litres of water per day to the villages. He has also been training locals in maintaining the pumps.
“The sun in Ghana is plentiful and free, so once the pumps are installed, there is little or no maintenance and further cost required,” said the Ghanaian-born engineer, “unlike hand pumps or diesel powered pumps, which use a lot of labour or expensive diesel.” Sustain will provide technical support for the local communities.
For further information, contact Tobias Parker on +(0) 44 1934 86 3650
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