Just when I think Darren has broken the most impossible record with the WaterBuck Pump, something new happens. Today he enlisted the help of a young neighbor, Tommy, to demonstrate the pump’s capability.

On his first attempt, Tommy filled three 7-gallon pails to the rim and was started on the fourth when I called, “Time!”

In 60 seconds flat, this medical school student pumped 22 gallons of water, one for each year of his age. And even though it was nearly 90 degrees outside, Tommy wasn’t even winded. He says with a little practice, he could probably pump more than 25 gallons in a minute. Ah, the optimism of youth!

We were certainly pleased with his result, which is actually 60 percent more water than a 12-foot-diameter windmill at peak performance can pump in one minute at the same application (80′ static water level with a 4″ cylinder).  According to the performance charts, a 12-foot windmill can pump 13.8 gallons in one minute with continuous winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour. Tommy also beat Darren’s old record of 17.5 gallons per minute.

Afterwards, I happily dispersed the pails of water among my garden plants. Speaking of breaking records, I am confident that my mammoth sunflowers are the tallest in the county this summer.

Darren says these water-pumping results are by no means the mechanical limits of the WaterBuck’s performance. They are just the beginning.

UPDATE: This pump in northern California yields an incredible 2 gallons of water per stroke. Also, if needed for an emergency (like a fire), 54 – 56 gallons per minute can be pumped. We fitted the pump with a 6” diameter cylinder and 4” drop pipe, an unheard of application for a deep-well hand water pump.

Now I wonder if Tommy’s classmates will ask if anything new and exciting happened over summer break.

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