Quick answer: most borehole problems in Kenya can be fixed without drilling again. A pump or control fault is a repair, usually done in a day. Falling yield, muddy water or clogged screens call for rehabilitation, which means inspecting, cleaning and flushing the borehole itself. A new borehole is only the answer when the casing has failed or the hole has collapsed.
This guide helps you work out which one you need, what each job involves and what it typically costs. Start with the checker below.
Repair, rehabilitate or redrill? Check in 30 seconds
Tap one answer for each question. Your likely next step appears straight away.
1. What is the main problem?
2. How old is the borehole?
3. Do sand or small stones come up with the water?
4. Has it been serviced in the last two years?
This is a planning guide. The cause is confirmed on site. For a symptom by symptom breakdown, try our borehole problem diagnoser.
Borehole Repair vs Rehabilitation: What Is the Difference?
Repair fixes the equipment that moves the water. That covers the pump, the motor, the control panel, the float switch, the cable and the rising main pipe. The borehole itself is fine.
Rehabilitation restores the borehole. Over the years, silt, mineral scale and bacterial slime block the screens and the gravel pack around them, so less water can flow in. Rehabilitation clears those blockages and checks that the casing is still sound.
Many owners replace a pump when the real problem is a clogged borehole. The new pump then struggles in the same way. That is why the first step for any falling yield should be an inspection, not a purchase.
Common Borehole Problems and How They Are Fixed
| What you notice | Likely cause | Usual fix | Type of job |
|---|---|---|---|
| No water at all | Power or controller fault, failed pump, burst rising main, water level below the pump | Check power and controls, pull and test the pump, repair the pipe | Repair |
| Less water than before | Clogged screens, worn pump, seasonal drop in the water table | Inspection, flushing and cleaning, resetting the pump | Rehabilitation |
| Muddy or cloudy water | Silt around the screens, poor development after drilling | Flushing until the water runs clear | Rehabilitation |
| Sand or stones in the water | Damaged screen or casing, broken gravel pack, partial collapse | Camera inspection, casing or screen repair, sometimes a new borehole | Rehabilitation or redrill |
| Pump keeps tripping | Pump too big for the yield, set too deep or too shallow, failing motor, unstable power | Resize or reset the pump, add protection | Repair |
| Air or spitting at the taps | Water level falling to the pump intake, leak in the rising main | Lower the pump, reduce the pumping rate, fix the leak | Repair |
| Salty or hard water | Natural aquifer chemistry, sometimes a cracked casing | Water test, then treatment | Treatment |
For more detail on each symptom, read our guide to common borehole problems and how to fix them.
Why Is My Borehole Not Pumping Water?
When the taps run dry, work through the simple checks first. Several of them cost nothing to fix.
- Power. Check the supply, the main switch and any breaker. On solar, check that the panels are clean and the cables are intact.
- Controller and protection. Many control panels stop the pump after it runs dry. Look for a fault light or a tripped dry run protector.
- Float switch. A stuck float switch in the tank tells the pump the tank is full when it is not.
- Pipes. Walk the pipe line to the tank and look for wet patches or a burst section.
- The pump and water level. If all of the above is fine, the pump may have failed or the water level may have dropped below it. This needs a technician to pull the pump and measure the level.
Do not keep restarting a pump that trips repeatedly. Each dry run heats the motor and shortens its life.
What Borehole Rehabilitation Involves
A proper rehabilitation follows a clear order, so you only pay for the work the borehole actually needs.
- Pull the pump and check it, the cable and the rising main.
- Measure the depth and water level. If the borehole is shallower than when it was drilled, silt or collapsed material has filled the bottom.
- Camera inspection. A downhole camera shows blocked screens, scale, bacterial growth and any broken casing.
- Cleaning and flushing. Compressed air lifts out the silt and loosened material until the water runs clear. Screens can be brushed, and chemical treatment is used where iron bacteria or scale are the problem. See our guide to borehole flushing in Kenya.
- Test pumping. A short test measures the new yield, so the pump is set at the right depth and rate.
- Disinfection and refit. The borehole is disinfected, the pump goes back in and the water is tested.
Not sure whether yours is due? These signs your borehole needs flushing are a good place to start.
When a New Borehole Makes More Sense
Rehabilitation cannot fix everything. A new borehole is worth pricing when the camera shows collapsed or badly corroded casing, when sand keeps coming in after repairs, or when the old borehole was drilled too shallow for today’s demand.
A partial collapse can sometimes be repaired. Our guide on how to fix a borehole collapse explains when that works and when it does not.
Borehole Repair Costs in Kenya
Costs depend on depth, the condition of the borehole and how far the site is from our base. These are the typical ranges we publish:
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Routine borehole inspection | KES 10,000 to 25,000 |
| Pump servicing and minor repairs | KES 15,000 to 50,000 |
| Full borehole rehabilitation | From KES 100,000 |
| New borehole, for comparison | KES 6,500 to 7,200 per metre (air drilling), plus about KES 50,000 for the survey and KES 85,000 for permits |
A replacement pump is priced on top of the repair, because its size depends on your depth and demand. To compare a rehabilitation with a fresh start, see how much borehole drilling costs in Kenya.
How to Avoid Repeat Repairs
- Service every year. A yearly check catches clogging and pump wear early, when the fix is cheaper.
- Do not over pump. Pump at or below the safe yield from your test pumping report.
- Protect the pump. Dry run protection and a good controller cost far less than a burnt motor.
- Keep records. Note the water level and flow after each service so you can spot a decline.
Our guide on how often boreholes should be maintained sets out a simple yearly plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an old borehole be repaired?
Yes, in most cases. Old boreholes usually lose water because the screens are clogged, and flushing and cleaning can restore much of the yield. Only failed or collapsed casing usually means drilling again.
How much does borehole repair cost in Kenya?
A routine inspection costs about KES 10,000 to 25,000 and pump servicing about KES 15,000 to 50,000. Full rehabilitation starts from about KES 100,000, depending on depth and condition.
Why is my borehole not pumping water?
Check power, the controller, the float switch and the pipes first. If those are fine, the pump may have failed or the water level may have dropped below it, which needs a technician to pull the pump and measure the level.
How long does borehole rehabilitation take?
Flushing alone often takes several hours. A full rehabilitation with inspection, flushing, a short test pump and refitting the pump usually runs over a few days, and heavily silted or damaged boreholes take longer.
Will you repair a borehole that another company drilled?
Yes. We inspect and repair boreholes no matter who drilled them. Share any drilling or test pumping records you have, as they speed up the diagnosis.
Get Your Borehole Working Again
We repair, flush and rehabilitate boreholes across Kenya. Call or WhatsApp Bonvic Drilling on 0727 666 444, or see our borehole maintenance and repair service.
