Water Feasibility
Studies Kenya
Before you drill, build, invest, or commit — you need to know the water is there, it is safe, and you can access it legally. Maji Hill conducts professional water feasibility studies across all 47 counties of Kenya — borehole viability, water supply feasibility for developments, demand analysis, source assessment, treatment feasibility, and WRMA compliance documentation. Evidence-based answers before expensive decisions.
WHY A WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT BEFORE A WATER PROJECT IN KENYA
Kenya has a long history of water infrastructure projects that failed not because they were built badly, but because no one adequately investigated whether the water was there in the first place. Dry boreholes, rivers that run only seasonally, aquifers that yield less than the demand, water quality problems that make treatment uneconomical — all of these are avoidable with a proper feasibility study. A water feasibility study is the cheapest insurance you can buy before a water investment.
Protect Significant Capital Investment
Borehole drilling in Kenya costs between Ksh 1.5 million and Ksh 6 million or more depending on depth and location. A water supply system for a development can run to tens or hundreds of millions of shillings. A feasibility study costing a fraction of this investment answers the fundamental question — is the water source viable? — before any major capital is committed.
WRMA Licence and Legal Access
The Water Resources Management Authority requires evidence of source viability and an environmental assessment before issuing abstraction licences. Without a WRMA licence, your water abstraction is illegal regardless of how much infrastructure you have built. A feasibility study produces the hydrogeological evidence and WRMA documentation required for a successful licence application.
Required by Financiers and Investors
Banks, development finance institutions, and private equity investors financing projects in Kenya increasingly require a water supply feasibility study as part of technical due diligence. A credible, independently prepared feasibility study demonstrating water availability, quality, and legal access provides the confidence that financiers need before committing to projects dependent on private water sources.
Design the Right System from the Start
A feasibility study tells infrastructure designers the actual yield, quality, and variability of the water source — the data they need to size treatment systems, storage, pumps, and distribution networks correctly. Designing without this data leads to over-engineered or under-engineered systems that either waste capital or fail to deliver adequate supply.
NEMA EIA Water Section Evidence
NEMA Environmental Impact Assessments for developments with significant water demand must include an assessment of the proposed water source — its yield, quality, sustainability, and the potential impact of abstraction on downstream users and the environment. Maji Hill’s feasibility studies provide the technical evidence that the EIA water section requires, and our engineers can prepare that section directly.
Options Analysis — Choose the Best Supply
A water feasibility study does not just assess one source — it identifies and compares all viable water supply options for a site, including borehole, surface water, rainwater harvesting, treated wastewater reuse, and mains supply extension. The comparative options analysis gives decision-makers the technical and financial basis to choose the option with the best combination of reliability, quality, cost, and regulatory simplicity.
WATER FEASIBILITY STUDIES BY CLIENT TYPE
Select your client type for a detailed breakdown of the feasibility study scope, methodology, and deliverables Maji Hill provides for your specific situation.
Developer Feasibility Study Scope
- Borehole viability — site-specific hydrogeological assessment
- Water demand analysis for development type and scale
- Source options assessment — borehole, mains, rainwater
- Source water quality assessment and treatment requirements
- Water balance — supply vs projected demand
- WRMA abstraction licence feasibility
- Infrastructure cost estimation for supply and treatment
- NEMA EIA water supply section
Developer Deliverables
- Feasibility report with source options comparison
- Hydrogeological assessment and borehole siting
- Water demand calculation and balance
- Treatment requirements and cost estimation
- WRMA licence application support documentation
- NEMA EIA water section
- Recommended supply option with implementation plan
- Investment-ready document for financier due diligence
County and Utility Study Scope
- Town or area water demand analysis and projections
- Existing source yield and reliability assessment
- New source identification and viability
- Surface water hydrology and seasonal analysis
- Groundwater resource assessment for county
- Water balance — current and projected demand vs supply
- Infrastructure options analysis with capital costs
- County Integrated Development Plan water data
County and Utility Deliverables
- Town or county water supply feasibility report
- Demand projections by population growth scenario
- Source viability and yield estimates
- Options comparison with capital and operating costs
- Recommended supply scheme with phasing plan
- WRMA and NEMA compliance documentation
- GIS mapping of sources, infrastructure, and coverage
- Donor and development partner reporting format
NGO and Rural Programme Study Scope
- Community water demand and current access assessment
- Borehole viability for rural community sites
- Spring and shallow well source assessment
- Rainwater harvesting feasibility
- Surface water abstraction and seasonal reliability
- Water quality assessment and treatment needs
- Piped scheme feasibility and cost estimation
- Sustainability and community management assessment
NGO and Donor Deliverables
- Community water supply feasibility report
- Source viability and quality data
- Preferred scheme design with cost estimate
- WRMA documentation support
- GIS-mapped water point and coverage data
- Donor proposal technical annex
- Sphere, UNICEF, and World Bank compatible reporting
- Sustainability and O&M framework recommendation
Industrial and Mining Study Scope
- Process water demand analysis by operation type
- Borehole field viability for sustained industrial abstraction
- Surface water hydrology and abstraction reliability
- Water quality assessment for process suitability
- Treatment feasibility for process water standards
- Water balance — abstraction vs return to environment
- WRMA abstraction licence feasibility
- NEMA EIA water section for mining project
Industrial and Mining Deliverables
- Industrial water supply feasibility report
- Borehole field yield assessment and development plan
- Source water quality and treatment cost analysis
- Water risk assessment for project financing
- WRMA licence application documentation
- NEMA EIA water section and water management plan
- Water balance model for operational planning
- IFC / Equator Principles compatible water risk report
HOW MAJI HILL CONDUCTS WATER FEASIBILITY STUDIES ACROSS KENYA
A rigorous, multi-method approach — combining desktop data analysis with field investigation, water quality testing, and quantitative demand modelling — to produce defensible, evidence-based conclusions.
Desk Study — Geological, Hydrological, and Regulatory Review
Every feasibility study begins with a comprehensive desktop review of existing data relevant to the study area. For groundwater assessments, this covers Kenya’s geological maps, the WRMA borehole database (which records yield, depth, and water quality for thousands of boreholes across Kenya), hydrogeological maps, aquifer reports, and published hydrogeological studies for the region. For surface water, we review river flow records from the Water Resources Authority, seasonal flow analysis, and upstream land use and catchment data. The desk study identifies the most prospective water sources, known water quality issues, and the regulatory requirements applicable to the specific location — and frames the field investigation efficiently around the highest-value questions.
Remote Sensing and Satellite Analysis
Satellite imagery analysis is a powerful and cost-effective tool for water resource assessment in Kenya. We analyse Landsat, Sentinel-2, and SRTM elevation data to identify geological lineaments — fracture zones in basement rock terrain that are the most productive zones for groundwater in much of central and eastern Kenya; drainage patterns and their relationship to aquifer recharge zones; seasonal vegetation anomalies that indicate shallow groundwater; and topographic features relevant to surface water catchment area delineation. Lineament analysis using GIS tools allows us to identify and rank potential borehole drilling sites before any fieldwork, focusing field investigation resources on the highest-probability locations.
Geophysical Survey — Electrical Resistivity Tomography
Where groundwater source investigation is required, Maji Hill deploys Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) — a geophysical technique that measures the electrical resistivity of the subsurface, producing a cross-sectional image of subsurface geology and identifying aquifer zones by their distinctive resistivity signature. ERT is particularly effective in Kenya’s basement rock terrain and volcanic formations, where it can image fracture zones, weathered zones, and alluvial aquifers to depths of 80–120 metres. ERT profiling is carried out along transects identified by the desk study and satellite analysis, providing subsurface geological information that directly informs borehole siting decisions and depth recommendations.
Water Quality Sampling and Laboratory Analysis
Water source feasibility is not only about yield — it is equally about quality. A source that yields adequate water but requires expensive or complex treatment significantly changes the feasibility conclusion. Maji Hill collects water samples from candidate sources — existing boreholes in the vicinity, surface water at the proposed abstraction point, springs — and submits them to an accredited laboratory for analysis against the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality and the specific treatment or process requirements of the proposed use. The analysis covers physical parameters (turbidity, colour, TDS), chemical parameters (fluoride, iron, manganese, hardness, nitrates, pH), and microbiological parameters. Quality results directly inform treatment feasibility and cost estimation.
Water Demand Analysis and Supply-Demand Balance
Knowing the source is viable is only half the answer — the other half is whether it is viable for the specific demand. Maji Hill prepares water demand analyses based on the proposed development or project: population projections using relevant growth rates; per-capita water consumption standards appropriate to the use (domestic, commercial, irrigation, industrial); peak demand factors; non-revenue water allowances; and seasonal variation. The demand analysis is compared against the estimated source yield to produce a supply-demand balance for current and projected future demand scenarios. Where the balance is marginal or negative for future demand, we identify the supply augmentation options — additional boreholes, storage, alternative sources — and assess their feasibility.
Options Analysis and Cost Estimation
A water feasibility study concludes with a comparative options analysis — presenting all viable supply options with their relative advantages, constraints, capital costs, operating costs, regulatory requirements, and implementation risks. Each option is assessed against a set of evaluation criteria relevant to the client’s context: cost, reliability, water quality, regulatory complexity, implementation timeline, and long-term sustainability. The recommended option is identified with clear reasoning and supported by an implementation plan covering the next steps: WRMA application, EIA preparation, borehole drilling programme, treatment system design, and infrastructure procurement. Cost estimates are provided at feasibility level accuracy (typically ±25–30%) and are sufficient for project budgeting and investor documentation.
8 SITUATIONS WHERE A WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY IS ESSENTIAL IN KENYA
These situations — common across Kenya’s property, infrastructure, and development sectors — all carry significant water supply risk that a feasibility study resolves before it becomes a project-stopping problem.
Before Drilling a Borehole
Drilling without a prior viability assessment is the most common cause of expensive dry holes in Kenya. A borehole viability study — reviewing regional geology, the WRMA database, and geophysical survey results — dramatically reduces the risk of investing Ksh 2–6 million in a borehole that yields nothing or yields water that cannot be treated economically.
Before a Major Residential Development
A developer planning an estate, gated community, or apartment block off the mains water grid must demonstrate to county authorities, NEMA, and project financiers that water supply is viable — in terms of yield, quality, legal access, and cost. A water feasibility study provides all of this in a single document.
For a Hotel, Lodge, or Eco-Tourism Project
Hospitality projects in Kenya — particularly lodges and eco-tourism facilities in remote areas — depend entirely on their private water supply. An investor or lender financing a hotel needs evidence that the water source is reliable year-round, meets potable standards (or can be treated to meet them), and is legally accessible through a WRMA abstraction licence.
County Government Water Master Planning
County governments developing or updating their water sector master plans under the County Integrated Development Plan framework need a rigorous assessment of existing source capacity, future demand, and required infrastructure investment. Maji Hill’s county-level feasibility studies provide the evidence base for these plans and the documentation required for donor and development partner funding applications.
Before a WRMA Abstraction Licence Application
The Water Resources Management Authority requires a hydrogeological assessment demonstrating the viability and sustainability of the proposed abstraction as part of a licence application. Without this evidence, licence applications are typically returned or rejected. Maji Hill’s feasibility studies are prepared to WRMA documentation standards.
As Part of an NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment
NEMA EIA submissions for developments with significant water demand must include a technical assessment of the proposed water supply — yield, quality, sustainability, impact on downstream users, and management plan. Maji Hill prepares the water supply section of EIA submissions, drawing on a feasibility study for its technical basis.
For a Donor or NGO Rural Water Programme
NGOs and development partners planning rural water supply interventions in Kenya are required to demonstrate technical viability before project approval and funding. A water feasibility study showing source availability, water quality, and implementation cost is the standard requirement for programme proposals to UNICEF, USAID, World Bank, and other development partners operating in Kenya.
For Project Finance and Investment Due Diligence
Private equity investors, development finance institutions, and commercial banks financing infrastructure, hospitality, or real estate projects in Kenya increasingly request water supply feasibility studies as part of technical due diligence. A Maji Hill feasibility study provides the independent, credentialled technical assessment that financiers require before committing capital to water-dependent projects.
HOW A MAJI HILL WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY IS CONDUCTED
A structured six-phase study process — from initial scoping to a final report with clear, evidenced recommendations — anywhere in Kenya.
Scoping and Study Brief
Desk Study and Data Collection
Field Investigation
Laboratory Analysis and Demand Modelling
Options Analysis and Cost Estimation
Report, Presentation, and Regulatory Docs
WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY DELIVERABLES — WHAT EACH STUDY TYPE PRODUCES
Every Maji Hill feasibility study produces a clear, documented set of deliverables. This table shows what each study type includes.
| Deliverable | Borehole Viability | Development Supply | County / Town | NGO / Rural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Feasibility Report | ✓ Full report | ✓ Full report | ✓ Full report | ✓ Full report |
| Hydrogeological Assessment | ✓ Core deliverable | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Water Demand Analysis | – Not applicable | ✓ Full analysis | ✓ Full analysis | ✓ Community demand |
| Water Quality Lab Results | ✓ Nearby boreholes | ✓ Proposed sources | ✓ All sources | ✓ Candidate sources |
| GIS Maps and Spatial Data | ✓ Siting map | ✓ Full GIS set | ✓ Full GIS set | ✓ Water point map |
| Cost Estimates | ✓ Drilling + treatment | ✓ Full scheme costs | ✓ Capital investment plan | ✓ Scheme cost estimate |
| WRMA Licence Documentation | ✓ Core deliverable | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| NEMA EIA Water Section | – Not included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | – Optional add-on |
| Implementation Plan / Next Steps | ✓ Drilling programme | ✓ Full implementation | ✓ Phased plan | ✓ Scheme design basis |
WHAT TYPE OF WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY DO YOU NEED?
Answer four quick questions for a personalised recommendation on the right water feasibility study for your project.
What type of project is the study for?
What is the primary water source you are considering?
Is the study needed for a regulatory submission?
Where is the project located in Kenya?
WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY COVERAGE ACROSS KENYA
Maji Hill conducts water feasibility studies across all 47 counties of Kenya — including remote ASAL areas, coastal zones, highland regions, and the Rift Valley. Type your county below to confirm coverage.
WHAT CLIENTS ACROSS KENYA SAY ABOUT MAJI HILL FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Feedback from developers, county engineers, and NGO programme managers who commissioned water feasibility studies from Maji Hill across Kenya.
“We were about to drill a borehole on our 200-acre development in Kajiado based on a neighbour’s recommendation. Maji Hill’s borehole viability study showed us that the site we had chosen was in a low-yield basement zone — but identified an alternative location 400 metres away on a fracture intersection that their geophysical survey revealed. We drilled there and got 15 m³/hr. Without the study we would have drilled a dry hole. The study paid for itself many times over.”
“We needed a full water supply feasibility study for our town’s CIDP water investment plan and for a donor proposal to the World Bank. Maji Hill conducted the study, prepared a detailed demand analysis, assessed three potential source options, produced a comparative cost-benefit analysis, and delivered a report that met the World Bank’s technical review requirements without any requests for additional information. Their GIS mapping was particularly well done.”
“As part of a private equity investment in a large eco-lodge development in Laikipia, our lender required an independent water supply feasibility study as part of technical due diligence. Maji Hill delivered a study that assessed both the borehole and the seasonal river as potential sources, recommended the borehole with an iron removal treatment unit, provided the WRMA application documentation, and produced a report that satisfied the lender’s environmental and social due diligence requirements. Professional and very well structured.”
KNOW YOUR WATER IS THERE BEFORE YOU BUILD — WATER FEASIBILITY STUDIES ACROSS KENYA
Before you drill, invest, apply for approval, or present to a financier — commission an independent water feasibility study from Maji Hill. Evidence-based conclusions. WRMA and NEMA compliant documentation. Licensed hydrogeologists and water engineers. Nationwide coverage across all 47 counties.
REQUEST A WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY PROPOSAL
Tell us about your project and study requirements. We respond within one working day with a scoped study proposal and timeline.
WATER FEASIBILITY STUDIES KENYA – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Honest answers to what developers, county engineers, NGO programme managers, and investors across Kenya ask before commissioning a water feasibility study.
What does a water feasibility study cover in Kenya?
A Maji Hill water feasibility study answers the fundamental questions before any water supply investment: Is there sufficient water of adequate quality available at this location to meet the proposed demand? At what cost? Under what regulatory conditions? The study typically covers identification and assessment of available water sources; water demand analysis based on the development type and population; source water quality testing and treatment requirements; infrastructure cost estimation; WRMA abstraction licence feasibility; NEMA requirements; and a comparative options analysis recommending the most technically and financially viable supply solution. The study scope is agreed with the client at the outset to ensure it addresses the specific decisions and submissions it is intended to support.
Do I need a water feasibility study for my development project in Kenya?
A water supply feasibility study is required or strongly recommended for any significant residential or commercial development before planning approval; NEMA Environmental Impact Assessments for developments with significant water demand; WRMA water abstraction licence applications; county government water master plan updates; donor-funded rural water programmes; and real estate or hospitality investments where water supply security is a precondition for financing. More broadly, any project whose viability depends on a private water source should commission a feasibility study before committing capital. A feasibility study costing a fraction of the project value protects against the far more expensive consequence of discovering a water supply problem after construction has started.
How long does a water feasibility study take in Kenya?
Study duration depends on scope. A focused borehole viability study for a single development site — reviewing existing geological data, the WRMA database, and satellite imagery with limited field reconnaissance — can be completed in 5 to 10 working days. A full water supply feasibility study for a development project involving field surveys, geophysical investigation, water quality sampling, laboratory analysis, and demand modelling typically takes 3 to 6 weeks. County-level water master plan feasibility studies covering multiple sources, demand projections for a population of tens of thousands, and full infrastructure options analysis typically require 8 to 16 weeks. Maji Hill provides a study-specific timeline in the initial proposal, agreed before mobilisation.
What is a borehole viability study and why do I need one before drilling in Kenya?
A borehole viability study assesses the probability of successfully drilling a productive borehole at a specific location — and at what depth and expected yield — before any drilling expenditure is committed. Borehole drilling in Kenya costs between Ksh 1.5 million and over Ksh 6 million depending on depth and location. Drilling without a prior viability assessment significantly increases the risk of a dry hole, a low-yield hole, or water of poor quality. Maji Hill’s borehole viability study reviews regional geology, the WRMA borehole database, existing hydrogeological maps and reports, satellite lineament analysis, and where warranted carries out Electrical Resistivity Tomography geophysical surveys — combining all of this evidence to rank drilling sites by probability of success and provide a recommended drilling location with a depth and yield estimate. The study also produces the hydrogeological documentation required for the WRMA abstraction licence application.
Is Maji Hill’s water feasibility study accepted by WRMA and NEMA in Kenya?
Yes. Maji Hill’s water feasibility studies and hydrogeological reports are prepared to the documentation standards required by the Water Resources Management Authority for abstraction licence applications and by NEMA for Environmental Impact Assessment water supply sections. Our reports are prepared by licensed hydrogeologists and water engineers and follow the technical and format requirements of both regulatory bodies. In the large majority of submissions, our reports are accepted without requests for additional information. Where a client’s application has previously been returned by WRMA or NEMA for inadequate documentation, Maji Hill can review the previous report, identify the gaps, and prepare the additional technical evidence required to support resubmission.
Does Maji Hill conduct water feasibility studies for remote ASAL areas in Kenya?
Yes. Maji Hill has experience conducting water feasibility studies in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties — including Turkana, Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, and Samburu. These areas present specific hydrogeological challenges including deep water tables, poor groundwater quality with elevated fluoride and TDS, seasonal surface water sources, and limited existing data. Our approach in ASAL areas relies heavily on satellite lineament analysis and the WRMA borehole database as primary pre-field tools, followed by geophysical survey to target the most productive fracture zones. Water quality testing is particularly important in ASAL groundwater, where fluoride levels in the Rift Valley corridor and high TDS in northern sedimentary aquifers frequently require treatment before the water is potable. We have the logistical experience to mobilise field teams to remote ASAL sites with appropriate advance planning.