How a Water Borehole is Drilled

Borehole in Nigeria

Conducting Borehole Projects in Nigeria To Ease Water Crisis and Improve Health

In this post series we shall examine and carefully articulate the borehole water supply project and its construction costs in Nigeria, especially to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target for safe water supply. Your comments are highly welcome. Access to safe drinking water in Nigeria must be achieve to satisfy the huge demand for safe water, which invariably improves the health and the socio-economic development of our people. This goal may be achieved by a thoughtful borehole water supply, because of its portability and availability. We as a nation and as a member of the international community, are tasked with achieving this Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) by developing cost-effective strategies to improve the construction quality and management of borehole projects. According to the National Water Resources Institute: “the construction costs for sustainable supplies by borehole systems are relatively high. The prices range from N400,000 to N950,000 for 4”/5” boreholes fitted with handpumps. The cost of motorised boreholes with diameter of 6” to 8” varies from N500,000 to N2,000,000 depending on the support structures associated with such projects”. A Proper design of borehole can be achieved by applying appropriate drilling technique to minimize unnecessary costs. Some of these techniques include the type of drilling equipment and the rate and speed of penetration; the drilling method and the diameter and depth to water table and sanitary protection considerations. According to sources, the drilling rig equipment packages cost range, could be as low as US$ 100,000 to as high as US $1Million. In addition, some factors that has been known to affect the Cost Effectiveness of Borehole (CEB) projects include ‘borehole standards and design’; drilling equipment rigs and adequate maintenance; contract packaging and community sensitisation and mobilization towards ownership and responsibility of the facilities; hydro-gelogical knowledge and siting practice, which may be lacking in depth of knowledge of national hydrogeology; test pumping, to obtain as much hydrogeological information about the aquifer in the area where the borehole is located; the quality of drilling supervision and authority of the supervising staff; the development of human resources and information systems; detailed research and evaluation of sustainability of groundwater resource; the support to developing private sector expertise and contracting and finally the enhanced management of public-private partnerships.

The Abia State University Medical Alumni Association (AMAA), will aspire to be the primary provider of the lifelong Abia State University Medical School experience, by connecting alumni, students, faculty and staff of the School of Medicine, Teaching Hospitals and the local communities, in line with the UN's Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG). http://www.absumedalumni.org/

Welcome to ABSU Medical Alumni Association's Blog ...going beyond healthcare...

The Abia State University Medical Alumni Association (AMAA), will aspire to be the primary provider of the lifelong Abia State University Medical School experience, by connecting alumni, students, faculty and staff of the School of Medicine, Teaching Hospitals and the local communities, in line with the WHO's Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG). http://www.absumedalumni.org/