Abstract
Ground water systems form essential components of rural water supply. In Ghana, four handpumps, namely Afridev, India Mark II, Nira AF-85, and Vergnet have been standardized for rural water supply. However, they have failed to deliver satisfactory levels of sustainability, largely due to inadequate maintenance capacity. An alternative to standardized imported handpumps is the locally manufactured rope-pump, which is considerably cheaper and easier to maintain but has not been standardized for use in Ghana for rural water supply. Framed from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the post-positivist paradigm and quantitative research approach, this study compared the performance of rope-pumps with standardized handpumps, to determine whether rope-pumps technology provide viable alternative for rural water supply. Probability sampling and self-designed questionnaires were used to elicit data from 431 respondents. Descriptive statistics, correlations and independent sample t-test were utilized to analyze the data. Decision rule applied in testing the hypothesis (Ho) with 95% confidence interval was: accept Ho, if p-values are ˃ α = 0.05 and do not accept Ho if p-values are ≤ α = 0.05. Findings showed rope-pumps as a potentially viable option to standardized handpumps. There were no significant differences between rope-pumps and standardized handpumps with respect to robustness, sustainability and microbiological quality of water delivered by the two pump types. Rope-pump technology is feasible, sustainable, scalable and will likely meet user needs if standardized and adapted for use by the communities. Measures for technology adaptation, government subsidies, investments, pollution control and standardization are necessary and will remarkably improve water quality from rope-pumps installed in the communities.