This is one of the most common questions we get—and the answer is both simple and more complex, depending on what you mean by “drill a well.”
The short answer:
It depends on the equipment. When we first started drilling in 2006, using an older model compressor, it would take about three days to drill a 50-meter well. Today, with our upgraded CompAir screw track compressors, we can drill that same well in just three to four hours, using the exact same drilling rig. In fact, the compressor often has more impact on drilling speed than the rig itself.
The bigger picture:
The actual drilling is just one part of the process. Before a borehole can be drilled, community engagement and planning need to happen. We meet with village leaders to discuss land use, water access, and long-term maintenance. If the well is located on school grounds, we need to ensure the surrounding community will also have access. We help the community form a water committee to manage maintenance and collect funds for future repairs.
We also provide hygiene and sanitation training, which is critical to ensuring the well remains clean and safe. And once the well is drilled, we conduct follow-up visits for up to 24 months—and sometimes even longer. In fact, we still check on wells we drilled back in 2006.
So while the drilling itself may only take a few hours, the full project timeline—from community outreach to follow-up—can take several months. That’s because we don’t just drill wells—we work to ensure they last.
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