Abstract: This invention relates to programmable electronic device that prevents wastewater submersible and non-submersible pumps as well as viscous pumps from ragging therefore avoiding pump blockage. In one aspect the invention provides a pump apparatus comprising a pump and a control device for a pump, the pump being a mechanically switched pump such as a direct online/star delta pump and capable of being operated in a forward and a reverse direction, the control device comprising: a monitoring mechanism to monitor the torque of the pump, a control mechanism to control the direction of the pump and being capable of selectively directing the pump to (i) stop, (ii) operate in a reverse and (iii) operate in a forward direction; wherein the control mechanism is adapted to control the pump to do at least one of (a) stop and (b) operate in a reverse direction when the monitoring mechanism detects a pre-determined value in the torque of the pump.