Maintaining Your Water System: A Homeowner's Guide

A borehole and pump system is a long-term investment. With proper maintenance, submersible pumps last 10-15 years and boreholes last 30+ years. Without it, you're looking at premature failure and expensive emergency repairs. Here's what every homeowner should know.

Monthly Tasks (5 Minutes)

Check Your Water Pressure

Turn on a tap and observe the flow. Gradually decreasing pressure over weeks suggests the pump is wearing, the water level is dropping, or the rising main has a leak.

Listen for Unusual Sounds

If your pump controller or pressure switch is making clicking sounds or the pump cycles on and off rapidly, you have a pressure tank or check valve problem. Don't ignore it. Short-cycling destroys pump motors.

Inspect Your Tank

Look at your storage tank for algae growth (green discolouration), leaks, or an overflow that runs continuously. A stuck float valve wastes water and can burn out your pump.

Clean Solar Panels

If you have a solar pump system, clean the panels monthly with water and a soft cloth. Dust, bird droppings, and pollen can reduce output by 15-25%. This is the single most impactful maintenance task for solar systems.

Quarterly Tasks (30 Minutes)

Check the Control Panel

Look for warning lights, error codes, or tripped breakers. Most modern controllers log faults, and knowing what happened prevents repeat failures.

Inspect Electrical Connections

Look for corrosion, loose terminals, or burn marks at the control panel and junction boxes. Corrosion is common in humid coastal areas and can cause intermittent faults.

Test Water Quality (Visually)

Fill a clear glass and hold it against a white background. Look for colour, particles, or cloudiness. If the water has changed since last quarter, something has shifted in your borehole or treatment system.

Annual Tasks (Professional Service)

Full System Inspection

A qualified technician should:

• Measure current draw on the pump motor (increasing amps indicate wear)
• Check insulation resistance on the pump cable
• Verify flow rate against the original pumping test
• Inspect and service the pressure tank
• Clean or replace treatment filters
• Check solar panel connections, voltage, and controller settings

  Water Quality Lab Test

Annual laboratory testing (KES 3,000-5,000 for a basic panel) catches slow changes in water quality that visual inspection misses. Test for iron, manganese, pH, TDS, and coliforms at minimum.

Warning Signs That Need Immediate Attention

Pump runs but no water comes out. Air lock, broken impeller, or water level has dropped below the pump. Turn off immediately and call a technician.

Sandy or silty water. Screen damage or gravel pack failure. Continued pumping worsens the damage. Stop pumping and call for service.

Pump trips the breaker. Motor insulation failure, cable damage, or electrical fault. Do not reset repeatedly, as each trip can cause further damage.

Burning smell from the control panel. Switch off at the main breaker immediately. Likely a contactor, capacitor, or wiring failure.

Water tastes or smells different. Possible contamination. Stop using for drinking and get tested immediately.

Maintenance Costs

Budget approximately:

• Residential systems: KES 15,000-25,000/year
• Institutional systems: KES 35,000-60,000/year

  This covers an annual service visit, filter replacements, and minor repairs. It's a fraction of the cost of a pump replacement (KES 40,000-150,000) or borehole rehabilitation (KES 200,000+).

  Maintenance Contracts

  We offer annual maintenance contracts that include:

• 2 scheduled service visits per year
• Priority emergency response
• 10% discount on parts
• Annual water quality test

  Prevention is always cheaper than cure. Contact us to set up a maintenance plan for your system.