WARMA concerned over surge in drilling complaints

 

The Water Resources Management Authority — WARMA — says it is receiving more than 50 drilling-related complaints every day, amid rising public concern over poor-quality borehole works.

Speaking during the Annual Drillers’ Forum, WARMA Acting Director General Misozi Lumpa said some drillers are engaging in substandard practices, including giving misleading quotations that do not match the actual depth of completed boreholes.

Mrs. Lumpa said the authority is particularly concerned about collapsed boreholes, uncoordinated drilling, and the failure by operators to submit borehole completion reports.

She revealed that since 2018, WARMA has registered 49,000 boreholes and processed 89,228 drilling applications, but only 13,350 completion reports have been submitted — creating what she described as a major compliance gap.

Mrs. Lumpa emphasized that groundwater remains a critical source of safe water for communities across Zambia and urged drillers to follow regulations to protect the resource. She warned that those who fail to comply will face penalties or loss of license.
She added that WARMA’s regulations are currently under review, but insisted that strict adherence to existing rules remains mandatory.

And Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation Permanent Secretary Engineer Romas Kamanga says government is making steady progress in improving water access nationwide.
He reported that 1,500 boreholes have been drilled, 500 rehabilitated into solar-powered schemes, and 110 commercial boreholes constructed under the Food Security Drought Response Plan.

Speaking at the same forum, Eng. Kamanga commended WARMA for strengthening regulation in the drilling sector, saying increased borehole registration and compliance with Statutory Instrument No. 20 of 2018 is helping protect groundwater and ensure boreholes are built to safe and durable standards.

He added that government is expanding the hydrogeological monitoring network to better understand and safeguard groundwater resources.
Eng. Kamanga urged drillers and stakeholders to strictly follow WARMA guidelines as the country works toward sustainable water access, before officially opening the forum.