Groundwater Investigation & Hydrogeology Services in Cambodia
Quick answer
Groundsearch provides end-to-end groundwater investigation in Cambodia: site scoping, geophysical survey, drilling supervision, pumping test analysis, and water quality assessment. We've developed water supplies for rural communities, municipalities, and private clients across the country, using a structured five-step process rather than guesswork — from defining demand through to a tested, sustainable well.
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How do you find a reliable groundwater supply?
Every water supply project starts with the same question. The answer isn't luck — it's a structured process that identifies a target aquifer, tests it properly, and confirms it will still be delivering water in ten years, not just on day one.
Define the requirement. We establish the volume needed, the intended use (drinking, irrigation, industrial), required water quality standards, seasonal demand variation, and the site location. This scope decides everything that follows — a 500 L/day village kiosk and a 10,000 L/day irrigation scheme call for different investigation depths.
Check the regulatory framework. We confirm provincial and national groundwater regulations, permitting requirements, and any protected zones before committing to a site — this can rule out locations or change the approach entirely.
Investigate the geology systematically. We review existing geological mapping, formation types, and nearby well records. In fractured or heterogeneous rock especially, understanding the structure — not just the rock type — is what separates a productive well from a dry hole.
Identify the target zone. Using the geological picture, we define the likely depth, thickness, and character of the water-bearing zone, and how it's likely to vary across the site.
Design the survey. We decide what geophysics is needed (ERT, MASW, magnetics), where to drill, and what testing programme will confirm yield, sustainability, and water quality once the well is in.
This is a repeatable process, not luck — the same one we've used across dozens of wells in Cambodia, from rural water kiosks to city supply projects.
- What services does Groundsearch provide?
Geophysical survey — Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), seismic refraction, and ground-penetrating radar, used to locate water-bearing zones before any drilling begins.
Drilling supervision and geological logging — on-site oversight to correctly identify lithology, target zones, and screen placement as drilling progresses.
Pumping test design and analysis — constant-rate and recovery testing, analysed using Cooper-Jacob, Theis, and other established hydrogeological methods to determine transmissivity, storage, and sustainable yield.
Water quality assessment — sampling and analysis against Cambodian and international drinking water standards, including arsenic, iron, manganese, and microbiological parameters.
Well design and development — matching well construction to the aquifer's actual behaviour, not a generic template.
Why does the method matter?
It's tempting to run one short pumping test, take the first straight line on a semi-log plot, and call it done. On a recent well near Kulen Mountain, checking that number against a second, independent method — Theis recovery analysis — and properly diagnosing an interference signal from a nearby bore (rather than dismissing it as noise) is what confirmed a sustainable yield of 867 L/hr with zero detectable arsenic. Read the full case study →
That's the difference between a well that's adequate on paper and one a community can rely on for years, not months.
Where have you worked?
Groundsearch has investigated and developed groundwater supplies across Cambodia — including community water kiosks in Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap Province — as well as projects in Singapore and New Zealand. Our team combines over a decade of direct Cambodia experience with more than 30 years of firm-wide operation.
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FAQ
How long does a groundwater investigation take?
A typical rural water supply investigation — from site scoping through drilling and pumping test analysis — takes several weeks, depending on drilling access, weather, and the complexity of the geology.
What's the difference between a geophysical survey and a pumping test?
A geophysical survey (ERT, MASW, magnetics) is done before drilling to identify likely water-bearing zones and reduce the risk of a dry hole. A pumping test is done after a well is drilled, to measure how much water it can sustainably produce.
Can you test for arsenic and other contaminants?
Yes. Water quality testing is a standard part of our groundwater investigations, checked against Cambodian drinking water standards including arsenic, iron, manganese, turbidity, and E. coli.
Do you work outside Cambodia?
Yes — Groundsearch also operates in Singapore and New Zealand, alongside our core Cambodia operations.
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Need a groundwater supply investigated? Get in touch to talk through your site, or explore our recent project write-ups on the blog.
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