A new prototype device has been designed to monitor water pumps, making it quicker and easier to locate and fix broken pumps.

The smartphone-sized device was developed by Portland State University in the United States. The sensors will be installed on Afridev and India Mark 2 water pumps in remote villages in Rwanda. 200 devices are expected to be installed by the end of the year, providing a better evaluation of the current state of water pumps and helping to improve water access by reducing system failures.

The device is contained in waterproof box and runs off AA batteries. A sim card inside the device transmits data over a cellphone network directly to the internet every night. The device is mounted directly inside the pump and monitors whether the pump is being used, whether water is coming out and how much water is coming out.

A message will be sent to a server every time a water pump needs to be fixed after which a text message will be sent directly to a technician. After the technician fixes a pump he fills out an online survey which allows the developers to compare the technician’s maintenance records with what the device is telling them about the operation of the pump.

According to SweetSense Inc. who is involved in the project, Rwanda, with cell phone coverage extending across 98% of the country, is the ideal location for a scale-up of remote sensors on water projects.

The prototype costs approximately US$500. However, developers say this is a worthwhile investment considering that each pump costs about US$15,000.