Published Paper

This conference poster presents findings from an independent technical review of 34 geophysical and hydrogeological siting reports across Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, assessing compliance with ISO/TR 21414:2016, ASTM 6429-23, and national regulations.

Key Findings:

• 91% of reports lacked essential raw data, documentation, and inversion transparency
• Only 2.9% of reports approached best practice standards
• 59% exhibited location coordinate issues
• 94% of reports lack proper VES data inversion
• Only 6% of reports provide fully defensible drilling depth recommendations with quantified justification
• 76% of reports contain no water quality assessment

Methodology:
The research examined nine critical criteria: regulatory compliance, geological description, coordinate integrity, equipment disclosure, geophysical data quality, VES data inversion, drilling depth justification, internal consistency, and risk-informed decision support. Each report was independently reviewed and benchmarked against country requirements and international guidelines.

Key Recommendations:

1. Make raw-data and inversion annexes contractual deliverables with prescribed minimum content
2. Establish institutional learning loops through centralized archiving and post-drill validation
3. Ensure clear linkage between VES interpretation and drilling depth recommendations
4. Shift from "interpretation-led" to "evidence-led, auditable decision support"
5. Require comprehensive pre-analysis of existing data before commissioning geophysical studies

Conclusion:
The research demonstrates that most geophysical reports function as advisory opinions rather than auditable science. Improving borehole success rates in Africa requires enforcing professional data standards and decision-grade documentation rather than more complex geophysical techniques.

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