The document summarizes the author's experience observing and assisting with borehole drilling and maintenance in Mazabuka, Zambia. Over four months, the author observed drilling at four sites but water was only found at one site due to unsuitable ground formation for the air drilling method used. The author also joined inspection teams that checked borehole maintenance, ensuring handpump fences and soakaways were built according to guidelines. Drilling involves using a diamond bit and hammer to drill pipes into the ground until water is found 40-54 meters deep. Unsuccessful drillings occur when ground formation is unsuitable or no water is present.

1. Shannon P. Marquez PhD, MEng1
, Dr Emmanuel Opong2
, Oyin Aderele1
, Mr Kaseba Nsangaya, Miss Saboi Sichilima,
1
Drexel University Global Public Health Initiative, 2
World Vision
AIMS
This project aimed to explore the drilling processes and methods
used in the Magoye ADP. It also aims to highlight the inspection
process used in maintaining the boreholes.
Abstract
I spent about 4 months in Mazabuka, Zambia during which I got to
observe and contribute to the drilling and maintenance of boreholes
around the Magoye ADP.
During my time in Zambia, I was privileged to observe borehole
drillings at four borehole sites in Njereka village, Chinyengele village
& Chimbotela village. The drilling team consisted of four to five
drillers and three drilling trucks.
Out of the four sites, the drillers were only successful in drilling a
borehole in one of the sites; Chimbotela village. The drilling method
i got to observe was the air drilling which was mostly not successful
because the ground formation in Mazabuka does not support the
form of drilling.
Also, i got to join an inspection team that went to the water points in
the Magoye ADP to check on how they maintain their water points.
This team also made sure that each village we inspected built a
brick fence and a soakawway for their handpumps. The inspection
team also checked if each Vwash committee was running
effectively, if they had trained members, if they collected monthly
user fees and if they kept reports of their meetings and the use of
their water points.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the Dornsifes for the opportunity to
explore Zambia. I would also like to thank Dr Maquez and
Mr Idris Robinson for their support throughout this
program. Special thanks to Dr. Emmanuel Opong for his
supervision while I was in Zambia.
METHODS
Borehole Drilling
Most common method of drilling used by world vision : Air drilling & Mud
drilling.
•Prior to drilling, borehole siting is done to see at what depth into the
ground, water might be found.
•The method of drilling used depends on the ground formation.
• The method of air drilling/ pneumatic drilling used in World Vision is the
dust (hammer) drilling.
• Other types of air drilling include Mist, Foam, Aerated.
•Mud drilling involves use of a chemical(drilling fluids); polymer mixture.
•Drilling fluids prevent formation fluid from entering the ground.
•In mud drilling, a mud pump is used to circulate the mixture from a
dug pond to the drill pipes.
METHODS
Borehole Inspection
Method Used: Trigger Method
First we met with the Vwash committee members and asked them a
series of questions which include: Name of their water point?Number of
households in Village? Number of households with access to the water
point? Population of village? Population with access to pump? Is the
pump working?
Than they were given an deadline of seven days to construct a brick
fence and soackaway for their boreholes.
After seven days if there isn’t any sign of progress, we removed the
handles off the handpumps.
Then we gave seven more days after which the fence and soakaways
would already have been built.
CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS
➢All old hand pump parts should be changed from galvanized
iron to stainless steel.
➢Pre-briefing of community members before
commencement of drilling.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.World Vision, Magoye ADP
World Vision drillers setting up to begin drilling a borehole in Njereka Village.
There had already been two attempts at drilling a borehole in this village
Background
•Country: Zambia.
•Location: Southern Africa
•Population: 14.5 million.
•Religion: Mostly Christian.
•No of Ethnic Groups: 72
Drilling process is made up of three main steps:
•Diamond bit is used to dig a preliminary hole into the ground.
•A conductor casing is inserted into the hole dug.
•Then a hammer bit drills the metal pipes deep into the ground through
the hole to reach the aquifer.
•Drilling continues until the hammer has inserted twenty 3m pipes into
the ground.
•Water is typically found 40 to 54m into the ground.
An unsuccessful drilling session occurs when:
•Ground formation does not support drilling type.
•There is no water in the ground.
Drexel University
Nesbitt Hall 7th
Floor Suite
3215 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
A water point on first visitation versus a water point after the fence had been
constructed
Little kids gather around the drilling machine to watch as water erupts from the ground during
the drilling process.