Last updated: 20 August 2025. This article explains the process for private homes, farms, institutions and community projects. It is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm requirements with your WRA regional office and county authorities.
Quick overview
Do your homework → clarify water needs, budget, site constraints.
Commission a hydrogeological survey by a licensed professional; complete any environmental screening/EIA your category requires.
Apply to the Water Resources Authority (WRA) for authorisation to construct works and, ultimately, a water use permit.
Hire a licensed borehole drilling contractor and drill/construct the well to standard.
Develop, test and analyse the borehole (test pumping + water quality).
File completion documents and obtain your water use permit.
Install pump, power, headworks, storage and metering; then operate and maintain compliantly.
Step 1: Plan your project
Purpose & demand: domestic use, livestock, irrigation, institution or mixed? Estimate daily peak demand and any seasonal peaks.
Budget envelope: include surveys, permits, drilling, casing/screens, development, test pumping, power, storage, treatment and fencing.
Site shortlisting: space for a drilling rig, safe access, and a dedicated wellhead protection zone (clear area around the borehole). Keep away from contamination risks (latrines, fuel stores, waste pits), power lines, floodways, and unstable slopes.
Neighbours & catchment context: ask around about nearby boreholes (depths, yields, water quality), and check if a local Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) operates in your sub-catchment.
Step 2: Commission a hydrogeological survey (and environmental screening)
Engage a licensed hydrogeologist to site the borehole, assess groundwater potential, and recommend target depths, drilling method (air/rotary/mud), casing/screens, and anticipated yields.
For most motorised abstractions (typical domestic/irrigation boreholes), you’ll fall under higher permit categories that require:
a Hydrogeological Survey Report (per WRA format), and
an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study report or at least a project report for screening, depending on the risk/category.
Your consultant will also help with stakeholder consultations (WRUA and local associations) where required.
Deliverables: Hydrogeological Survey Report, EIA project/study report (as applicable), and evidence of stakeholder consultations.
Step 3: Apply to WRA for authorisation to construct
Submit your application (Form WRA-001) with the required reports and fees. Usually around Ksh 40,000.
WRA categorises your application (Category A/B/C/D) based on risk/scale.
If approved, WRA issues an Authorisation to Construct Works (Form WRA-004), which sets conditions and a completion deadline.
Tip: Do not mobilise a rig before the authorisation is issued. Your contractor should verify that the authorisation is valid before starting.
Deliverable: WRA Authorisation to Construct works.
Step 4: Hire a licensed drilling contractor & mobilise
Choose a licensed borehole contractor (drilling class E1 <150 m or E2 >150 m). Ask for copies of their current Qualified Contractor license, equipment list, crew CVs, and relevant NCA paperwork.
Agree on a method statement covering: rig type, drilling method, cuttings disposal, casing & screen specs (material, slots), gravel pack, sanitary seal and grouting plan, wellhead design, development approach, and HSE plan.
Prepare the site: access route, a level pad for the rig, water supply (if mud drilling), fencing and signage, if required.
Deliverables: Signed contract + method statement + site handover certificate.
Step 5: Drill and construct the borehole
Typical sequence
Set out & collar the borehole at the sited coordinates; install conductor casing if needed.
Drill to the target depth, logging formations, losses/gains, water strikes and penetration rates.
Geophysical logging (if specified) to refine screen placement.
Install casing & screens to the design (diameter, material, screen slot size), with gravel pack across aquifer intervals.
Seal the annulus above the gravel pack with bentonite/cement to prevent contamination; construct a sanitary wellhead set on a concrete apron with a lockable cap.
Develop the borehole (air-lift/surge/jet/pump) to clear fines until water runs clear and stabilises.
Quality checks: verticality, plumbness, casing integrity, screen interval verification, and accurate well completion log.
Step 6: Test pumping & water quality analysis
Step-drawdown test to establish well/aquifer performance.
Constant-rate test (typically 8–24 hrs) with recovery monitoring to determine sustainable yield and pump sizing.
Water sampling for laboratory analysis at an accredited/recognised lab. Compare results against KEBS potable water specifications for intended use; plan treatment (e.g., iron/manganese, hardness, fluoride, pathogens) if needed.
Deliverables: Pumping test report, lab certificate of analysis, and treatment recommendations if required.
Step 7: File completion documents & obtain your water use permit
Within the stipulated timelines after completing works, submit to WRA:
Completion Certificate (Form WRA-006), and
Borehole Completion Record (prescribed WRA form for boreholes/wells).
WRA may inspect the works for compliance with the authorisation conditions.
Apply for your Water Use Permit (valid for 5 years, renewable). WRA reviews the completion record/data, then issues the permit once satisfied.
Deliverables: Filed completion documents; Water Use Permit in your name.
Step 8: Equip the borehole (pump, power, headworks, storage, metering)
Pump selection: match the sustainable yield and total dynamic head from test pumping.
Power: solar PV, grid, or generator; consider lifecycle costs and reliability.
Headworks: secure wellhead (sealed, lockable), riser, non-return valve, dip tube for water-level monitoring, and a flow meter where required.
Storage: ground or elevated tanks sized for daily/peak demand and fire/livestock/irrigation needs.
Treatment: disinfection (chlorination/UV), filtration/softening/defluoridation as needed by lab results.
Compliance notes
Maintain a wellhead protection zone around the borehole—keep it clean, fenced and free of pollution sources.
Where your category requires, install and maintain an automated/smart meter and keep daily abstraction records.
Step 9: Operate, maintain and renew
Record-keeping: daily pump hours/flows, and maintenance.
Routine maintenance: check electricals, panels, pump performance; service/rehabilitation as needed.
Permit renewal: apply before expiry (5-year cycle). WRA may inspect and/or request updated technical reports.
Community etiquette: if you share water, set simple rules and keep a log of usage and contributions.
Timelines at a glance (indicative)
Hydrogeological survey & EIA screening: 1–4 weeks depending on scope.
WRA Authorization to construct: varies by completeness and category. Plan for several weeks after a complete submission.
Drilling + construction: 3–10 days on site for typical depths/diameters (weather, access and geology dependent) plus development, testing and lab work.
Water use permit issuance: once completion docs are accepted and the application is complete.
Important: Regulatory timelines depend on the completeness of your documents, your permit category and any required inspections.
Practical tips to avoid delays & cost overruns
Submit complete packs: hydrogeological + EIA docs + stakeholder evidence.
Work only with licensed professionals/contractors; keep copies of current licences in your project file.
Confirm casing/screens availability before mobilising.
Insist on proper sealing & wellhead construction—it’s your long-term water quality insurance.
Test, then size the pump—never the other way round.
Meter and monitor—you can’t manage what you don’t measure.
Minimum compliance checklist (print & tick)
Hydrogeological Survey Report (signed by licensed professional)
EIA project/study report & approvals (as required by your category)
Evidence of WRUA/association consultations (if applicable)
WRA Authorisation to Construct (WRA-004)
Contract with licensed drilling contractor (Class E1/E2)
Borehole constructed to spec (casing, screens, gravel pack, seal, apron)
Development and test pumping reports
Lab water quality results from recognised lab + treatment plan (if needed)
Completion Certificate (WRA-006) and Borehole Completion Record filed
Water Use Permit issued (valid 5 years)
Meter installed (where required) + abstraction logbook
Wellhead protection zone fenced and clean
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need an EIA?
Small, low‑risk abstractions may be handled differently than larger/motorised schemes. Many motorised boreholes fall in higher categories that require an EIA study report. Your hydrogeologist can advise after screening. If your project is within a residential area, you require EIA
How deep will we drill?
Depth is site‑specific. Your hydrogeologist will propose a target depth plus contingency based on local geology and nearby borehole data.
What about treatment?
Let lab results guide you. Common issues are hardness, iron/manganese, fluoride, salinity and microbiology. Design treatment for your intended use (drinking vs. irrigation/livestock).
Who owns the permit?
Permits are issued to the landowner/applicant and must be renewed every five years. They can be varied or transferred under set conditions.
Final word
Kenya’s process is straightforward when you follow the steps: competent studies, the right approvals, licensed drilling, solid construction, and diligent testing. Do the paperwork properly once, and enjoy reliable water for decades.
Have questions or want a tailored checklist for your site? Tell me your county, intended use and target yield, and I’ll adapt this guide for you.