70% Total Drill Depths Reached In Daku Borehole Project

Seventy per cent of drill depths have been achieved in the Daku Village borehole drilling project. The project is taking place on Kia Island.

Acting Director for the Mineral Resources Department, Raymond Mohammed, said preliminary assessments at the current drill depths indicated the presence of groundwater.

However, the water yield and recharge capacity of the well-established it to be low and weak respectively.

Mr Mohammed said their drilling and hydrogeology team continued to drill and monitor the water quality with increased drilling depths.

He reiterated how the assessment of water quality with increasing drill depths was critical in analysing the close association of saline groundwater and the freshwater aquifers on the island.

The village, which was the least developed when compared to the other two villages on Kia Island, Ligau and Yaro, were the most affected in sourcing clean drinking water.

Ligau has a desalination plant that converts seawater into drinkable water while Yaro had a borehole commissioned last December.

Daku Village Water committee development leader, Joana Finau, said the project was a dream that every individual in Daku had to secure a permanent solution to their water woes.

Ms Finau said if the development was successful, then their children’s future and one of their basic necessities would be fulfilled.

Technical and weather conditions delay work

Mr Mohammed said the drilling works commenced late in February to allow for the drill rig to be serviced and underwent some repair works.

“The challenging conditions and technical considerations continue to affect the progress of the project,” he said.

“Nonetheless the team have adapted well and have developed strategies to ensure the targeted total depth of drilling is reached”.