The problem
- 4.2 billion people rely on onsite sanitation systems such as pit latrines and septic tanks.
- These systems require regular emptying to stay safe and usable.
- Conventional vacuum trucks often cannot access dense, informal or unpaved settlements.
How it works
The PuPu Pump is a mobile pumping unit powered by a compressor. A petrol-driven compressor unit sends air through hoses to a separate pump unit, which draws sludge from the pit and pushes it through a delivery hose into a storage tank or vacuum truck, moving sludge up to 100 meters away from the latrine. Duck bill valves let the pump handle thick sludge and small debris without clogging.
Field programme
Opero field-tested the PuPu Pump in Kisumu with manual pit emptiers, then used market insight and product-improvement feedback to position it for wider East African deployment. Service providers in Kisumu and Nakuru reported strong performance in hard-to-reach areas where conventional exhausters cannot operate. Opero now commercialises the pump in East Africa and shares standardised testing results through the WASH Technology Centre.
See it in the field
Video series produced by CAWST (Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology) with Opero, covering the PuPu Pump and its use by sanitation providers in Kenya.
Operating the pump
- Position the storage vehicle or tank near the latrine.
- Connect the air hoses between the compressor and pump unit, mixing or fluidizing the sludge if needed.
- Attach the sludge hoses and begin pumping.
- Stop once the pit is empty or the storage tank is full.
- Clean the inside of the sludge hoses by driving a sponge ball through them.
- Transport the sludge to an approved disposal site.
Technical specifications
PuPu Pump technical specifications| Pump unit weight | 50 kg |
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| Compressor unit weight | 50 kg |
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| Maximum suction depth | 8 m |
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| Total head | 20 m |
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| Pumping distance | Up to 100 m (lay-flat hose, viscosity dependent) |
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| Hose diameter | 100 mm (4 in), suction and delivery |
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| Standard delivery hose | 30 m |
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| Standard suction hose | 6 m |
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| Yield | 1 to 7 m³/h, depending on sludge viscosity |
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| Operating pressure | -0.8 to 2.5 bar |
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| Warranty | 1 year |
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What it can and cannot handle
- Handles sanitary napkins, small bottles, condoms and rags within otherwise pumpable sludge.
- Cannot pump garbage or solid, dry sludge.
Training and support
Operator training is recommended, and most repairs can be handled locally. A standard set includes the 30 m delivery hose, 6 m suction hose, spare parts, tools and manuals. A transport vehicle is not included. As the authorized distributor for East Africa, Opero provides this training and after-sales support directly.
We are the authorised PuPu Pump distributor for East Africa, providing sales, operator training and after-sales support across the region.
