This is an archival version of the original KnowledgePoint website.

Interactive features have been disabled and some pages and links have been removed.

Visit the new KnowledgePoint website at https://www.knowledgepoint.org.

 

Revision history [back]

click to hide/show revision 1
initial version
RedR TSS gravatar image
RedR TSS

Thank you for your replies. This last piece of information from Martin is very helpful - appears spot on and is in line with our way of thinking - that our bore hole will never produce potable water. We received a Water Treatment Equipment Proposal from Davis Shirtliff where in their discussion, suggest that as the well pressure exceeds that of the ground pressure, assistance from a pump will not be required. Borehole yield: 40m3/hr - estimate. The bore hole was drilled in February. A test pump was installed at 68 mts. and water flowed for 24hrs before the pump was removed - flashing and capping were completed. The report suggests the water pressure was high after the pump was removed. The bore hole remained capped until mid-June, when the drillers said there would be insufficient pressure to elevate the water and that a pump would be necessary to get the water from the bore to the tank. The drillers returned and inserted an submersible pump into the system around June 15th. Because there was no 3-phase electrical connection available, it was left disconnected and open - and leaking +++. On July 18th, the driller returned to the site and said it could not be capped because the water would build up too much pressure. It still continues to leak - but we have no clear idea of how great a volume. The consequences are terrible in the staff quarters living in the near vicinity; it is a quagmire of stagnant, smelly water. Their pit latrine has filled with water spillage and also the septic tank. The hospital has been closed by the Kenyan Public Health Dept. The advice from the drillers is to connect the pipes to the pump to take the water to the tower to stem the flooding asap. We have requested new independent water analysis samples and instructed the electrical connection must not be made to implement the system until the poor water quality is verified. (Not certain if water properties change over time/depth? First analysis showed high fluoride at 15. Sodium was only 488mg/l.)

Expectation is that pump should be removed and the bore hole to be abandoned. The driller is yet to be persuaded this will be the course of action. The on-site project manager is a Sister (Roman Catholic nun) who is supported by 2 senior Rotarians from Thika and Nairobi - advice that has been received is mostly from the drillers who wish to see their job completed - blow the consequences. They say the water is good for washing and cleaning. This nightmare scenario is compounded with poor communication about what is happening between all concerned personnel. It is with deep frustration that the situation is not resolving. As volunteers, my husband and I are going out to Kenya in mid-August for 3 weeks to do some dentistry and to give a project overview!!

Thank you for the observations you have made - which concur with the course of action that will be taken - if the new water analysis demonstrates the impurities as expected. Urgency is key to sorting the problem