Village Level Operation and Maintenance (pumps)

Village Level Operation and Maintenance, commonly VLOM, refers to the use of a hand pump which requires minimal maintenance. It is sometimes referred to as VLOMM, or Village Level Operation and Management of Maintenance.

During the UN decade on water boreholes, hand dug wells and tubewells were constructed and water pumps provided to developing countries. Unfortunately this top down approach led to the installation of pumps that were difficult to maintain. VLOM pumps were introduced after the water decade, to allow remote villages to maintain pumps themselves and part of a larger strategy to reduce the dependency of villages on government and donor agencies.