Cost Of Drilling A Borehole In Kenya
The cost of drilling a borehole in Kenya is 6,500 shillings per meter, including casing. Prices vary depending on the type of ground, the machinery used to drill, and the purpose of the borehole. Areas with soft soil are cheaper to drill than those with a rocky sub-surface. Likewise, domestic water boreholes are cheap than industrial and agricultural boreholes.
Before drilling, some steps need extra capital, including getting permits and having a hydrological survey done. After drilling, a borehole needs extra services such as test pumping, pump installation, tank installation, solarization and piping which further increases the total price.
A cheap alternative for borehole drilling in Kenya is well digging, which starts at 2,000 to 3,500 shillings per foot. This post will cover everything you need to know about drilling a borehole in Kenya. Also, find the cost of water tanks in Kenya here.
Borehole Drilling Prices In Kenya
| COUNTY | PRICE |
| Nairobi | Ksh.700,000 to Ksh. 3 million |
| Kitui | Ksh. 800,000 to Ksh. 6 million |
| Makueni | Ksh. 800,000 to Ksh. 6 million |
| Machakos | Ksh. 800,000 to Ksh. 6 million |
| Nakuru | Ksh. 700,000 to Ksh. 3 million |
| Narok | Ksh. 500,000 to Ksh. 1.2 million |
| Kericho | Ksh. 500,000 to Ksh. 1.2 million |
| Eldoret | Ksh. 500,000 to Ksh. 1.2 million |
| Bomet | Ksh. 500,000 to Ksh. 1.2 million |
| Kisii | Ksh. 500,000 to Ksh. 1.2 million |
Borehole Drilling Services For Hire In Kenya
Types Of Water Drilling In Kenya
- Borehole drilling; Borehole drilling in Kenya is done either mechanically or manually. Mechanical borehole water drilling involves a drilling rig, while manual drilling uses labour.
- Digging a well is relatively cheaper and uses manual labour to dig wells in areas with a shallow groundwater level and soft sub-surface soil types.
Requirements For Drilling A Borehole In Kenya
The government of Kenya regulates borehole water drilling. However, if you want to drill a well, you don need any of these permits. For you to drill a borehole, you shall need the following requirements:
- NEMA Permit: This is a letter of authorization to drill water that you shall acquire from The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The permit letter is given after an environmental impact assessment by NEMA.
- Water resource authority permit: You need a letter of authorization from the water resource management authority in Kenya (WRA)
- County water and sewerage authority permit: You shall need a permit from your local county water and sewerage authority.
Process Of Drilling A Borehole In Kenya
1. Hydrological Survey
What is a hydrological survey
A hydrological survey is the study analysis of the subsurface geological and hydrological composition. This helps water drillers identify the areas with quality water, the water level, the quantity of water, and the ideal geological makeup for drilling. During a hydrological survey, the geologist identifies the following:
- After bearing rocks in the subsurface of an area
- The infiltration capabilities of water-bearing rocks in the sub-surface
- Water storage capabilities of the water-bearing rocks
- The pressure of water in the subsurface
- The quality of water available in the subsurface.
How much does a hydrological survey cost in Kenya?
A hydrological survey in Kenya costs 15,000 shillings for a well and 35,000 to 50,000 shillings for a borehole on average. Call 0784887206 for hydrological survey services in Kenya.
2. Getting Permits
The next step is getting permits for borehole drilling. The permits are legally required for anyone to drill a borehole in Kenya. As mentioned earlier, you need 3 permits to drill water in Kenya. These permits are
3. Contracting a borehole drilling contactor
After you have been permitted to drill a borehole in Kenya, the next step is contracting a water drilling company or agency.
Ensure that you get a qualified water drilling contractor. Discuss your requirements and agree with your contractor.
Before the drilling process, ensure you sign a contract. Ensure all your agreed terms are listed in the contract. Here are important terms you should discuss:
- Your water requirements
- The cost of drilling and all services
- Water drilling project period
- Desired depth
- The type and method of drilling
- The diameter of your borehole
- Well development
- Water testing and any other terms as per your desire.
Download a sample water drilling contract below.
Below are water drillers in Kenya you can contact.
4. Actual Borehole Drilling
After contracting, the actual borehole drilling begins. After the drilling test, pumping is done, followed by casing, pump, and piping installation. Depending on your preferences, you can install a tank and solar to power your pump. You can see solar prices in Kenya in this post.
Cost Of Digging A Well In Kenya
Unlike boreholes, wells in Kenya are more expansive in diameter and shallow. Wells are especially ideal for areas with shallow water levels. Digging a well costs 2000 to 3500 shillings.
Well, digging in Kenya is predominantly manual, with little use of drilling machines. To dig a well in Kenya, you do not need any permits but require a hydrological survey to determine the best spot for a well. Well-digging services include hydrological surveys, digging, and building the well. You can call 0784887206 for borehole drilling services.
How Deep Should A Borehole Be in Kenya?
The average depth of a borehole in Kenya is 300 meters. A borehole depth of 70 to 90 meters is suitable for areas with shallow groundwater levels. Areas with deep groundwater levels require a depth of 250 meters to 400 meters. Your hydrologist should be able to tell you the approximate depth you shall need to reach water in your situation.
How Much Water Can A Borehole Produce Per Day?
A borehole located in a good spot and drilled well produces 600 to 3,000 litres of water per hour. This is ideal for domestic use. However, for industrial or agricultural use, you need more.