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How to Raise Water Above Level Without a Pump

Moving water, whether for crop irrigation, public hygiene in the form of sewers or keeping a ship afloat, has been a question people have worked on for centuries. While mechanical pumps are the go-to device for most applications nowadays, there are other means of lifting and moving water that work just as well. Ancient irrigation systems that used buckets or baskets at the end of levers use human power, paddle wheels use the flow of water itself to lift it, but the Archimedes' Screw is a primitive human-powered pump that can be made at home. A small version will teach you the principles behind the tool, then you can scale up or down as needed.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 - 2-foot length of PVC, 1/2 inch diameter
  • 10 feet clear vinyl tubing, 1/4 inch inner diameter
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
  • Electrical tape or other waterproof tape
  • Box knife or blade
  • 2 small bowls
  • Blocks, boxes or books
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure 1/4 inch from the bottom of the clear vinyl tube and make a mark on the tube. Line this mark up with the bottom of the PVC pipe and tape the two together with waterproof tape.

    • 2

      Wrap the vinyl tube evenly around the PVC pipe. Tape them together at the end of the PVC pipe and measure 1/4 inch beyond the end of the PVC pipe on the vinyl tube and mark it. Cut the tube carefully with a box knife or blade.

    • 3

      Fill a bowl with water and set it on a table or other flat surface. Place the second, empty bowl on top of the blocks to make it higher than the other.

    • 4

      Place one end of the screw in the bowl with water in it and slide the blocks so the other end of the screw is hanging over it. Turn the screw so water is captured by the end of the vinyl tube that is hanging into it; depending on the direction of your wraps, this might be clockwise or counter. Water will travel up the vinyl tube and be deposited in the upper bowl.


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