Cost Effective Boreholes in Nigeria

Sunday Arafan Mangai Dotun Adekile

Raymond Retchen RWSN Forum 2011

RWSN Code of Practice for Cost Effective Boreholes

• Enables organizations to evaluate their approach to borehole delivery in accordance with best international practices

Nigeria -Background

• Population: 150 million

• Federal Constitution with 36 states

• Rural Water Supply Coverage: c. 40%

• Drilling started in 1947

Principle 1: Borehole drilling and supervision should be undertaken by professional and competent organisations

• Drilling companies in Nigeria – mostly Nigerian

• Water Well Drillers Association founded in 2009 – a directory of 350 members

• Conventional drillers – machine drilling

• Artisan drillers – hand drilling, locally made rigs

• Brief case drillers

• National Code of Practice for Water Well Construction in Nigeria (FGN/NWRI, 2009).

Principle 2: Appropriate siting practices utilised competently and scientifically performed

• All government contracts stipulate geophysical surveys – resistivity and electromagnetic methodologies

• Siting by trained geologists

• Siting by trained technicians – regulation by the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG)

• Siting by drilling contractors

Principle 3: The construction method is economical, drilling technology matches the borehole design • Previously multi purpose heavy duty rigs used,

current trend is towards fitting the rig to the purpose

• Locally fabricated rigs – Recent survey shows 30% of rigs fabricated locally

• Hand drilling

• Private businesses & householders able to own their own boreholes

Principle 4: Procurement procedures ensure that contracts are awarded to experienced and qualified consultants and drilling contractors

Public Procurement Act of 2007 • projects advertised • requests for expressions of interest • prequalification of contractors • verification of prequalification submission • short-listing of contractors • submission and evaluation of tenders • contract award

Principle 4: Procurement procedures ensure that

contracts are awarded to experienced and qualified consultants and drilling contractors

Prequalification requirements

• of past contracts of similar nature

• cost and complexity

• personnel capabilities

• equipment capabilities

• financial capability

• litigation history

Principle 5: The design is cost-effective, to last for a lifespan of 20 to 50 years, and minimum specification to provide a borehole which is fit for purpose Borehole designs fit the terrain and the purpose Open holes Different borehole designs Aquifer type Design

Weathered basement complex and shallow sediments; depth less than 60 m

110 mm dia. PVC lined max. 60 m depth fitted with a handpump

Sediments with aquifer at depths greater than 60m

150 mm dia. PVC lined to 100 m depth fitted with a handpump

Sediments with aquifers greater than 100 m

150 mm dia. Steel lining fitted with motorised pump

Principle 6: Adequate arrangements are in place to ensure proper contract management, supervision and timely payment of the drilling contractor

Contract management and payment

• Based on well established government systems - technical specifications and bill of quantities

• Payment within 60 days – not quite

Supervision - weak

• the ‘’no water no pay’’ policy

• most projects do not budget for supervision

• lack of experienced personnel to carry out the supervision

Principle 7: Hydrogeological and borehole construction data are collected in a standard format and submitted to the relevant Government authority

• Geological Survey department – Form GS 10

• National Code of Practice for Water Well Construction in Nigeria

• National Water Resources Institute

• No water no pay

Principle 8: Storage of hydrogeological data is undertaken by a central government institution with records updated and information made freely available and used in subsequent drilling specifications.

• National Code of Practice for Water Well Construction in Nigeria

• NWRI

Principle 9: Monitoring - Regular visits to completed boreholes are made to monitor their functionality in the medium as well as long term with the findings published

• National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Program Strategic Framework

• Local governments and State rural water supply agencies responsible for monitoring of facilities

• 30 - 60% handpumps not functional

• ESA & NGOs support communities

Conclusion

Strengths Systems and the legal framework for CEB have been set up • Procurement act • National Code of Practice for Water well Construction • Water Well Drillers Association Weaknesses • Lack of transparency in contract award • Late payment • Data collection • Non payment for dry holes • Poor supervision

THANK YOU