Include boarding demand, kitchens, sanitation, holiday operating arrangements and trained caretaker access in the water brief.
Make the brief specific to the project
For a site in Kiambu County, supply the actual location and access route rather than only the nearest town. On subdivided or built-up plots, check rig entry, overhead services, sanitation separation and the route to shared storage.
For developed or subdivided sites, coordinate access, construction space, tanks and existing services before mobilisation. Confirm ownership and any shared-use arrangements. Neighbouring borehole performance is useful background, not a guarantee for your plot.
The technical scope
Use solar energy to pump water into a well-planned storage system. The array, controller and pump must work together at the required head while respecting the tested operating limits of the borehole.
Check both cold-condition open-circuit voltage and operating voltage against the controller limits. The installer should document string design rather than relying on the panel count alone.
- Pumping-test results and the required total dynamic head
- Daily water demand and usable storage volume
- A shading-free array location with mounting options
- Any grid or generator backup requirement
Project governance and change control
Identify the owner, scope approver, access contact and eventual operator. Use one version of the quotation and agree the evidence needed at assessment, construction, equipment selection and commissioning. Explain how a changed site finding will be approved before further cost is incurred.
What should be in the quotation?
Include the pump if needed, array, mounting, controller, electrical protection, cabling, installation, tank controls and storage changes.
Panel wattage alone cannot predict daily water delivery. Pump efficiency, head, solar conditions, shading, controller limits and borehole yield all matter. Water storage can be more appropriate than adding batteries to a pumping-only system.
Acceptance and aftercare
Request the electrical layout, component ratings, controller parameters, measured commissioning conditions, dry-run protection checks and a maintenance schedule.
Agree who will monitor the system, how maintenance is funded and where the records will be stored. Include operator training and a clear contact for abnormal readings, low flow or equipment faults.