Hydraulic ram pump (belier hydraulique)

Uses the kinetic energy and water-hammer effect of a continuously flowing source (stream, river, spring with sufficient fall) to lift a fraction of that flow to a higher point, entirely without electricity, fuel, or lubrication, some documented installations have run continuously for decades. Genuinely site-dependent: needs a reliable flowing water source with roughly 10%+ slope and a real fall height between source and pump; not usable without one.

Cost
Low
Upkeep
Occasional
Skill to build
Basic
Lifespan
20-30+ years, some documented ram-pump installations have run continuously for decades per its own description, with periodic valve/seal servicing
Embodied carbon
Low
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
Continuous process
Skill to repair
Basic

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

What your site needs

Flowing water source (stream/river/spring) with sufficient fall/slope on site

Inputs

Outputs

Sources

Tutorials

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.