If you have read this far you may be thinking that windmills are complex machines fraught with features which make them unreliable. What this document has said is :- *Check that the local populace wants water. *Check that there is water. *Check that there is wind. *Select a proven windmill design. *Check that a quality pump is used. *Ensure the windmill is installed to manufacturers specifications. *Ensure the hydraulics of the system are sound with emphasis on potential causes of resonant oscillations. *Re-visit the windmill after a few months to check that the nuts and bolts are tight. *Ensure a maintenance plan is in place to look after the windmills. The above tasks are far less onerous than those applying to most other rural water supply mechanisms. The fact of the matter is that if the the above simple yet golden rules are followed the windmill pumping system will have a life of 50 years subject to the following maintenance regimen:- * Annual oil change. * Replace pump washers every two years. * Regular inspection visits.