Water is unarguably the most vital commodity for a human being. The uses of water are endless and each has its own significance. From drinking and washing to cooking and cleaning, water is an important component of all these activities.
The sources of water are numerous. In order to extract the precious liquid and use it to its fullest, man devised pumps. Water pumps have been in existence for several centuries. Ever since Archimedes invented the screw pump to draw water, the use of these devices has grown in leaps and bounds. In simple terms, a pump is a device used to move a liquid from one place to another with the help of air pressure. Water pumps are primarily used to draw water from rivers, lakes and ponds. The first water pumps were the hand pumps, which were used to draw water from an underground water table. Later, as technology advanced, more innovative pumps were developed which made the task less cumbersome. However, hand-operated water pumps can still be found in rural areas. The water drawn by these pumps is used for a variety of purposes like irrigation, land and mine draining, fountains, and sump and bilge pumping.
A water pump may be operated by several sources of energy. Today, the most common source is electricity, which helps pump water with the aid of an electric motor. Other common sources of energy include solar energy, wind energy, gas energy and water energy. While solar and wind based water pumps may not provide the same energy as an electric or gas powered water pump, these devices come handy when constant supervision is not possible. Moreover, since these run on renewable sources of energy, the net operating costs are lower.
The price of a water pump depends on its power and its energy source. Care should be taken to pick the right one to fit the task on hand. From fancy fountains to irrigating our fields, water pumps have made a lasting impact on our lives.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Heat Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Air conditioners and refrigerators have become an essential commodity in today’s technology-dependent world. These devices have changed the way we live, by adding several conveniences to our day-to-day life. At the heart of these cooling devices is a heat pump. A heat pump is a...
-
Sun Powered Heat Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Solar energy is fast becoming an alternative source of energy, and companies in the US are innovating solar-electric heat pump systems for residential and light-commercial space heating and cooling, and water heating. Solar-powered heat pumps can not only cool and heat residential spaces, and heat...
-
Electric Heat Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Electric heat pumps are the best solution for one’s home heating and cooling needs, as heat pumps save as much as 30% on heating costs when compared to a gas furnace and also provide year-round comfort. A good-quality electric heat pump provides a continuous flow...
-
Sump Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
From pumping gas into a vehicle to cleaning the home with a vacuum cleaner, pumps are all around us. Sump pumps are simple mechanical devices used to move fluids by altering pressure levels. There are several different types of pumps, each with their own individual...
-
Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Whether it is filling gas in the car at a local gas station, pumping water into the backyard pool or blowing balloons for a kid’s birthday party, pumps have played an important part in our lives since their discovery several centuries ago. A pump is...
-
Vacuum Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Vacuum pumps are used to pump gases out of an area, leaving a partial vacuum. The vacuum pump was invented by the German named Otto von Guericke. The flow of air removal, the amount of vacuum produced, and the power that is required to produce...
-
Geothermal Heat Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Geothermal heat pumps use the earth’s natural heat to circulate water or refrigerant between an underground network of pipes and heat pumps located inside the house. Although geothermal heat pumps are similar to ordinary heat pumps, they only differ in their usage of the ground...
-
Clutch Driven Vacuum Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Clutch-driven vacuum pumps are high-volume, high-efficiency vacuum pumps that move air in or out of something. There are a large number of clutch-driven vacuum pumps to cater to the different needs of households, factories, and industries. The surface-spinner model uses force generated by the pressure...
-
Discount Breast Pumps
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Many new mothers choose to get used breast pumps to feed their babies to save money, but they should be careful. Even though used breast pumps are more affordable than new ones, there are possible legal and health implications involved. A breast pump labeled “single...
-
Tankless Electric Water Heaters
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Tankless electric water heaters are one of the two types of tankless water heaters, the other being tankless gas water heaters. A tankless water heater is a compact home appliance that provides hot water whenever needed without storing the water. Cost effectiveness, easy installation, energy...