The BlueZone concept is a modern management model for sustainable water supply for communities in Africa. It has been developed as a response to the failing VLOM (Village Level Operated & Maintained) management model that has been heavily promoted by NGOs since 1980.

The main reason that the VLOM model failed was due to the fact that the VLOM handpumps break down too often; repairs become more frequent and more complicated within a few years after installation. As a result, repairs are finally impossible or very costly for the communities and most of the VLOM handpump are abandoned withing 3 to 5 years. Over 150.000 VLOM pumps are already abandonned in Africa.

The BlueZone Concept explained
The BlueZone concept is based on using the very reliable BluePump handpump to avoid the irritation of expensive regular breakdowns. To profit from economics of scale, the BluePumps are concentrated in a zone (called "BlueZone"), a district or province, with professional back-up of a BluePump dealer or agent. The BluePump is installed by the dealer or agent with one year full warrantee.

A local caretaker from the community is assigned to each BluePump to supervise daily operation and simple maintenance, like tightening nuts and bolts, cleaning of the platform, opening & closing of the pump, etc. The caretaker is appointed by the community and is registrated with the local government as the official contact person for that water point. 

The caretaker is paid a small compensation for this, per week, per month or in whatever way that is best suited in the community. In case of a major problem, the caretaker is responsible to call for the BluePump dealer or regional agent who will  repair the pump for a fixed price, only depending on the distance. The fixed repair price is important for the community and the caretaker, because they will know how much to collect for the repair. In this case, the O&M is very transparent and sustainable.

The community has no more worries for repairs or to get spare parts. The BluePump basically does not need any spare parts in the first place, and in the rare case some parts are needed, they will be supplied and installed for free by the regional BluePump support.

The BlueZone concept is sustainable by itself, because all stakeholders have an interest in keeping the pump operational. The regional BluePump support or dealer also has a strong interest to keep all BluePumps in a good working order. When all BluePumps are working, it's good reputation will buzz around and the BluePump dealer will sell more BluePumps, expanding the BlueZone even further.

FairWater assist in setting up the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) in these BlueZones and is monitoring from time to time the performance in the field. If needed, FairWater will do follow-up missions for further training and assistance. In case the BlueZone needs specific materials or new parts (updates of older type of BluePumps) FairWater will provide these parts for free, in collaboration with the local FairWater partners.

BlueZone example
In the Gambia a good and active example can be seen already of the BlueZone Concept. The country dealer Swe-Gam has BluePumps in stock and installs BluePumps with a year warrantee. Already over 50 BluePumps are operational in this BlueZone. Swe-Gam has already a good reputation all over Gambia as the BluePump supplier and support. As a result, the communities and others also start to know of the other products that Swe-Gam has to offer in the rural areas, such as agricultural equipment. Therefor their activities in installing and maintaining BluePumps have a positive spin-of for the company Swe-Gam as a whole.

The advantages of the BlueZone concept are:
- Operational costs are very low (generally less than 1 US$ per family per month);
- Breakdowns are very unlikely, people have water for many years without interruption;
- In case of unlikely breakdown, repairs are done quickly & professional, for a fixed & fair price;
- Users will always know exactly what they will have to pay for a repair;
- No need of building up a "repair fund" with one person (this created too many problems in the past);
- The caretaker is motivated by a (financial) interest to keep the pump in good condition;
- Monitoring of the breakdowns is easy because only one person is responsible;
- The BluePump expected lifetime is over 15 years.
- The BluePump lifetime can be easily extended with a simple overhaul by the dealer.

What is so special with the BluePump?
The FairWater BluePump is an innovative and new handpump design, using performance field data of existing handpumps, combined with innovative solutions to solve persistant maintenance problems. After a severe testing program with the help of Oxfam Kenya and Unicef Mozambique, the final model was released in 2011, which is now considered by experts as the most effective and reliable handpump on the market. It main advantage is a maintenance free below-ground pump unit without rubber seals, combined with rock-solid box and heavy duty maintenance free bearings.

Examples of the BluePum design simplicity
-  No rubber seals on the piston;
-  Triple security foot valve system, with a stainless steel ball to deal with the pressure of 100m water in rising main:
-  Strong 12mm stainless steel rods, fully threaded: in unlikely case of breaking, rest of rod can still be used;
-  Simple, strong & cheap, locally reproducable rod centralizers with secure fit;
-  No special tools needed for installation of maintenance;
-  etc....

The BluePump design is owned and hosted by the FairWater Foundation who supervises the production and monitoring the performance in the field. FairWater has an active R&D program to update and improve the design whenever needed. In case of the unlikely event of malfunctions or technical problems, parts are replaced at no cost by FairWater through the BluePump central distributor BOODE B.V. in the Netherlands.
 
For more information about the FairWater BluePump contact FairWater