Drilling a borehole: what to agree before anyone starts
A borehole is a large investment in work you cannot see once it is finished. Almost every dispute traces back to something that was not agreed in advance.
Settle the dry-hole question first
Practice varies: some contractors charge in full for an unsuccessful hole, some at a reduced rate, some re-site once at no cost. None of these is unreasonable. What is unreasonable is discovering which one applies after the fact.
Get the answer in writing before drilling starts. It is the single most valuable sentence in the agreement.
Pay for the survey separately
A siting survey costs a fraction of a dry hole. A contractor who insists a survey is unnecessary is taking a risk with your money rather than theirs — and separating the two also means the person choosing the spot is not the person paid to drill it.
What completion should give you
Insist on a completion record: depth drilled, casing specification and depth, static water level, and yield in litres per hour. Without it you have no basis for sizing a pump, no evidence if the yield disappoints, and nothing to show a buyer later.
- Depth and casing specification
- Measured yield, not an estimate
- Whether pump supply and installation are included or quoted separately
Common questions
- How deep will it need to be?
- Commonly 40 to 80 metres across much of Zimbabwe, but geology varies sharply even between neighbouring properties. A survey gives a far better estimate than any average.
- Do I need a permit?
- Groundwater abstraction is regulated and requirements vary by area and intended use. Establish who is responsible for obtaining any permit before work starts.