Almost 2 million children die each year due to a lack of clean water and inadequate sanitation.

In South Africa water is a problem. Most of us are fortunate enough to only experience this problem as a restriction on the amount of baths we take or how many times we water our gardens. In rural villages though, having no water means walking up to six hours a day for women and children.

Playpumps International is a nonprofit organization that came up with a surprising solution to the problem – a roundabout.

By harnessing the energy of the children playing on the wheel, a borehole pump is powered and pumps water to the surface.

If the roundabout is turned 16 times a minute, the play-pump can produce 1,400 litres of water per hour from a depth of 40 meters.

Two problems solved with one highly original solution! Children are supplied with the instruments to play and communities have a sufficient supply of clean drinking water.

Playpumps International enables individuals, governments, foundations, and companies to donate PlayPumps water systems to rural African communities and schools. They are aiming to bring clean water to 10 million people in the next three years.

PlayPumps International is registered both as a United States organization and as an independent South African NGO, and maintains offices in both countries 

There are nearly 700 play-pumps installed in South Africa up to date (See interactive map of pumps in South Africa).