Gold Exploration, Groundwater, Geotechnical investigation, Image the ground and subsurface

At our Kampong Thom test site, results confirm a productive, safe well ready to support community water supply.

Development Made the Difference

Well development and surging cleared fine sediment from around the screen, letting the aquifer flow freely. At KTB2, working drawdown fell from 15 metres to just 3.5 metres afterward — a dramatic improvement. Careful design helped too: the gravel pack and screen were placed against the coarser, higher-yielding sands in the aquifer.

The Test Program

Two test wells, KTB1 and KTB2, were drilled to characterise the aquifer before committing to a production well. KTB2 was drilled to 32 metres and screened between 17 and 28 metres, targeting a buried palaeochannel — often a productive groundwater source. A pumping test at KTB2, monitored via observation well KTB1, revealed how the aquifer behaves.

What the Results Show

Transmissivity measured 25 m²/day, with recovery data suggesting it could be even higher — a sign of a genuinely productive aquifer. A storage coefficient of 5×10⁻⁴ indicates a semiconfined aquifer, with static water level around 2.5 metres below ground despite a much deeper productive zone. This storage value sits toward the upper end for semiconfined aquifers, so extended pumping tests are a sensible next step.

Yield and Water Quality

Both wells sustained 4.5 m³/hour, comfortable for the intended supply. Water quality meets drinking standards throughout: no arsenic detected, iron at a manageable 1 ppm, and TDS within Cambodia's standard.

Next Steps

Groundsearch has carried out groundwater investigation and hydrogeological assessment across Cambodia for over a decade. Get in touch to find out how we can support your water supply project.