Oxford University researchers have developed text message technology that could help tackle water shortages in Africa.

Researchers have built transmitters for water pumps that are capable of sending text messages in case of a break-down.

The transmitters, which fit inside hand pumps, are to be tested in 70 villages in Kenya from August. Also, the East African country would be the first in the world to use this technology.

“It measures the movement of the handle and that is used to estimate the water flow of that hand-pump,” said Patrick Thomson, a member of the research team.

“It can periodically send information by text message back to a central office which can look at that data and when a pump breaks, very quickly a mechanic can be despatched to go and fix it.”

Harold Lockwood of water supply firm Aguaconsult estimates that between 30% and 40% water pumps are broken at any one time, often in remote areas where it is not easy to send a repair team.

According to the United Nations Joint Monitoring programme, the number of people lacking access to a safe water supply in Africa increased by 38 million people between 1990 and 2010.

Eighty per cent of those without safe water access are in rural areas.

Speedy repairs could have a significant impact, as broken pumps result in people spending more time seeking water and often resorting to unsafe sources.

Lead Researcher Rob Hope explained that the intention was to reduce the time it took to get to and repair a broken pump from one month to just one day.

They also hope to collect data that can educate them on the correct way of handling the pumps in order to prevent problems from occurring.

“Twenty-four hours is the key aim. Eighty percent of breakdowns are small, involving rubber rings and seals and a mechanic would be able to fix them on the spot,” he said.

“We think we can get to the point of predicting failure before it happens. That's exactly the type of thing we hope the trial will deliver.”

“Reliable water supplies lead to healthier people and more productive livelihoods.

Andrew Mitchell, the UK's Secretary of State for International Development, believes swift repairs to the pumps can have an economic as well as a health impact.

“Water does not just save lives in the short term - it is also a cornerstone for delivering economic growth and helping countries to work their way out of poverty,” he said.