Cheap is expensive when it comes to borehole drilling.

When it comes to borehole drilling, an investment in quality is an investment in the future. While a low quote may seem attractive at first, the risks of a failed project, expensive repairs, or contaminated water far outweigh the initial savings. 

1. They Skip the Site Survey — You Get a Dry Hole

Licensed drillers conduct surveys to target aquifers with proven yield and sustainability.

2. They Use Thin, Substandard Casing — Your Borehole Collapses

Experts use certified, appropriately thick casing — grouted and sealed to last decades.

3. They Drill Too Shallow — Water Disappears in Dry Season

Licensed drillers go deep enough to hit perennial aquifers — verified by yield tests.

4. They Install Low-Quality Pumps — Breakdowns in Months

Experts fit durable, branded pumps (Grundfos, Mono, etc.) with service support and warranties.

5. They Skip Water Testing — You Drink Poison

Licensed drillers test water quality before handing over the keys — ensuring it’s safe for humans and animals.

6. No Paperwork, No Accountability — You’re Stuck With Junk

Licensed drillers provide borehole completion reports, contracts, logbooks, and contact for after-service.

7. They’re Unregistered — No Recourse, No Standards

Licensed. Registered with Water Resources Authority & Kenya Water Well Drillers Association. They follow the law — and you’re protected.

Choosing an inexperienced driller using substandard materials often ends up costing more than a professional job would have. Some additional costs for a failed borehole project are;

1. Re-drilling: often requiring starting from scratch at a new site.

2. Rehabilitation and Repair: Fixing a collapsed borehole is complex and can be more expensive than the original job.

3. Lost Investment: The money spent on the initial drilling, casing, and pump installation is lost forever, never refunded.

4. Continued Water Scarcity: The problem the borehole was meant to solve—lack of water—persists, forcing the owner to continue relying on expensive and unreliable  alternatives like water bowsers.

Across the country, countless communities and private landowners have learned this lesson the hard way. Contractors offering “too good to be true” prices often cut corners on materials, geology surveys, casing depth, or pump quality. The result? Dry holes, collapsed shafts, contaminated water, and pumps that fail within months.

In Kenya’s challenging hydrogeological landscape, expertise, quality, and patience aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities.

A properly drilled borehole — with geological survey, quality casings and accessories, adequate depth, pump testing, and water analysis — may last 15–25 years. It delivers safe, reliable water. It avoids the hidden costs of repairs, health impacts, and community disruption.