Rocktech Geoengineering Services

Are You Thinking of Drilling a Borehole? Read This Before You Drill

If you are considering drilling a borehole in Kenya, the most expensive mistake is starting with a rig rather than a survey. At Rocktech Geoengineering Services, we are often called in after a borehole has already failed, and in most cases, the problem could have been avoided with proper surveying.

Step 1: “See” underground before you spend
Commission a hydrogeological survey. In Kenya, we typically use electrical resistivity, in which a controlled current is injected into the ground, and the response is measured. Different rocks, clays, and aquifers react differently to that current, so we can build a picture of what lies below the surface.
A good survey helps you:
a) Pick the best site on your land
b) Estimate the depth and thickness of water bearing zones.
c) Avoid dry or very low-yield areas, and flag zones likely to contain saline water.
The final hydrogeological report gives a specific recommendation: drill here, to approximately this depth, with this expected yield. That is a far better basis for investment than guesswork.

Step 2: Get the right permits before drilling
In Kenya, all boreholes require authorization from the Water Resources Authority (WRA) under the Water Act 2016 and the Water Resources Regulations 2023. Drilling without permits can attract penalties, including fines and possible closure of the borehole.
a) Submit the survey report, ID, and land ownership documents to WRA.
b) WRA reviews the application, may visit the site, and if satisfied, issues an authorization letter allowing you to construct (drill) the borehole at the specified location and depth range.

After drilling, apply for a water abstraction permit
a) After drilling, a Borehole Completion Record, pumping test data, and water quality report are prepared.
b) These documents are submitted to WRA to get a groundwater abstraction permit, which legally allows you to use the borehole and sets your allowable yield and annual fees.

Skipping these steps might look cheaper in the short term, but it exposes you to a higher risk of drilling a dry/poor yield borehole and to legal issues later when you try to connect the borehole to formal projects or sell the property.

At Rocktech Geoengineering Services, we support you through the entire journey:
i. Professional hydrogeological surveys to choose the best site and depth.
ii. Preparation of the hydrogeological report and guidance through WRA requirements.
iii. Technical oversight during drilling, test pumping, and water quality assessment.

If you are planning a borehole for your home, farm, institution, or real estate project in Kenya, we can help you design a borehole plan that makes sense technically, legally, and financially.
www.rocktechgeoengineering.co.ke 0796 150496 [email protected]

From “We Hit Water” To Hard Numbers: Getting Value from Test Pumping

A drilled borehole only tells you that water is present. Without proper test pumping and analysis, you are still guessing about yield, drawdown, and long term performance.
Rocktech Geoengineering Services Ltd offers complete test pumping and analysis services:
1. Step drawdown and constant rate tests - We run instrumented tests to understand aquifer response, efficiency, and sustainable abstraction rates.
2. Professional data logging and analysis- We analyze water level data to estimate transmissivity, storativity, and safe yield for design and licensing.
3. Design input for pumps, solar, and storage- Results feed directly into pump sizing, solar design, and storage requirements for institutions, estates, farms, and industries.
4. Support for WRA licensing- Our reports support WRA abstraction permits approvals.
If you need solid numbers from your borehole, book a test pumping and analysis package with Rocktech Geoengineering Services Ltd for your next project.
www.rocktechgeoengineering.co.ke
📞 +254 796 150 496 · ✉️ [email protected]