Recent research has shown that humic substances can affect the effectiveness of iron wheel-driven water pumps. These are the traditional pumps used in many developing countries to access groundwater for irrigation, the mainstay of agricultural sustenance for many of these communities.

A team of researchers from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) have recently published a paper in the journal Science of the Total Environment that outlines their findings. They looked at how humic substances—a type of organic matter found in soil, peat, and other natural environments—interact with iron wheel-driven pumps. The results of their study show that the presence of humic substances can cause the pumps to become clogged and inefficient, reducing their effectiveness. This is a major issue for developing countries, as iron wheel-driven pumps are their primary source of groundwater. The research team’s findings suggest that these countries need to be aware of the effect humic substances can have on their water pumps, and take steps to mitigate or prevent the problem.

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source: Phys.org