- The borewell water source survey checks if a solar pump will work on a site before you install.
- Measure depth, static and dynamic water level, yield, water quality and total head.
- A solar pump runs on sunlight, not demand — it cannot out-pump a weak source.
- Size for the lean-season water table, not the monsoon, to avoid a dry-run failure.
- Test thresholds here are practice norms, not scheme rules — confirm with the SNA and tender.
Most PM-KUSUM pump failures start before the pump is even bought. A weak borewell, a falling water table or the wrong head reading turns a good install into a callback. A short, honest water-source survey is the cheapest insurance you can buy on a solar pump job.
What the borewell water source survey is
The borewell water source survey is the pre-install check of a farmer's water source — its depth, static and dynamic water level, sustainable yield, water quality and total head. The survey decides whether a solar pump will work there and which pump size fits. It is a field visit with simple tools and a few timed readings, not a lab study.
The survey applies to any source the pump will draw from: a borewell, an open well, or a surface source like a pond or canal. Each has its own checks, but the goal is the same — know how much water you can lift, how far, and for how long across the year.
Why the survey matters for solar pumps
The survey matters because a solar pump runs on sunlight, not on demand, and cannot draw more water than the source yields. With a grid pump, a farmer can run it longer to make up a weak bore. A solar pump only runs when the sun shines, so if the bore is weak, the pump pulls air, loses flow, and can run dry and burn out.
The cost of skipping the survey lands on the EPC. An oversized pump on a weak bore fails early, the warranty claim is messy, and the farmer blames the installer. A correct survey sizes the pump to the source and protects your five-year O&M margin from avoidable callbacks.
What to check on site
Check the source, the head and the water quality together. These three sets of readings feed straight into the pump choice. Do them in one visit so the data is consistent.
The source and the levels
Record the borewell depth and casing depth, then the static water level (the resting level before pumping) and the dynamic water level (the level while pumping at the design rate). The gap between static and dynamic tells you how hard the bore is working and whether it can sustain your flow.
The total head
Total head is the suction lift plus the delivery height plus friction losses in the pipe. It is the real work the pump must do, and it drives the HP choice. A small error here, repeated across many jobs, leads to a fleet of under- or over-sized pumps.
The yield and discharge test
The yield test measures how much water a bore can sustainably give per hour, usually in litres per hour, by pumping at a set rate and watching the water level settle. It shows the dynamic water level under load and the safe discharge you can design for. Test methods and thresholds are practice norms, not scheme rules, so confirm locally.
Read the draw-down, not just the flow
The number that matters is whether the water level holds steady or keeps falling while you pump. A steady level means a sustainable yield. A level that keeps dropping means the bore cannot support that flow for long, and you must size down or warn the farmer. Use this reading to feed the pump sizing calculator.
Pre-install survey checklist
Use this checklist on every site visit so no reading is missed. Each item maps to a decision you will make about the pump. Capture a photo or reading for each one.
Source: MNRE pump technical specification and standard hydro-geology practice. Test thresholds are practice norms, not scheme rules — verify with your SNA and the tender, status as of 19 Jun 2026.
Water table and seasonality
The water table moves across the year, so a single reading can mislead you. A bore that looks strong after the monsoon may fall sharply by the dry season. Size for the lowest expected level, not the level on the day you visit, or the pump will run dry when the farmer needs it most.
Ask the farmer about past dry-season levels and check Central Ground Water Board data for the area. Over-extraction in some blocks has pushed water tables down for years. If the trend is falling, set the pump deeper and design conservatively. A dry-run pump is the fastest route to a warranty claim — see why solar pumps fail for the field faults this prevents.
How the survey feeds pump sizing
The survey feeds sizing by giving you the two numbers a pump is chosen from: the total head and the required daily water output, capped by the bore yield. With those, you pick the HP and pump type that match the source, not the farmer's wish list. Our pump sizing guide walks through the method step by step.
This is also where you decide between an AC and DC pump and set the panel array. Get the survey right and sizing is straightforward. Get it wrong and every later step inherits the error.
Red flags that should stop a job
Some survey results should pause a job, not just shrink the pump. Walking away from a bad site protects your warranty and your reputation.
- Falling dynamic level that never settles — the bore cannot sustain useful flow.
- Very low yield against the farmer's water need — the pump will disappoint even if it runs.
- Heavy sand or silt in the water — it wears the pump fast and shortens life.
- High salinity or TDS — may harm the crop and corrode parts.
- A clearly failing water table trend — the source may be dry within a season or two.
Document every red flag with photos and readings. If you proceed after a warning, get the farmer's informed consent in writing. That record protects you at commissioning and during the O&M years.
How SuryaHub helps with survey data
SuryaHub stores each site's survey data — depth, water levels, yield, head and quality — against the project, so the right pump is selected and the readings are ready for inspection. The mobile field app lets your surveyor capture readings and photos on site, and the project module carries that data through to commissioning and the O&M record. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the test thresholds here are practice norms, not guarantees.
Capture survey data on site, once
See how SuryaHub links survey readings to the right pump and the inspection pack.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is a PM-KUSUM borewell water source survey?+
A PM-KUSUM borewell water source survey is the pre-install check of a farmer’s water source — its depth, static and dynamic water level, sustainable yield, water quality and total head. The survey decides whether a solar pump will work there and which pump size fits. Skipping it risks a dry-run pump failure.
Why do EPCs need a borewell survey before a solar pump install?+
EPCs need a borewell survey before a solar pump install because a solar pump runs on sunlight, not on demand, and cannot draw more water than the source yields. Without a survey, an oversized pump can run dry and burn out, the warranty is at risk, and the farmer loses trust. The survey sizes the pump correctly.
What is a borewell yield test?+
A borewell yield test measures how much water a bore can sustainably give per hour, usually in litres per hour, by pumping at a set rate and watching the water level. It shows the dynamic water level under load and the safe discharge. Test methods and thresholds are practice norms, not scheme rules, so confirm locally.
What happens if the water table drops after install?+
If the water table drops after install, the pump may pull air, lose flow or run dry, which can damage the motor and void the warranty. That is why the survey checks seasonal levels and the EPC sets the pump deep enough and sizes for the lean season. Plan for the lowest expected level, not the monsoon level.
Is the borewell survey a PM-KUSUM rule or good practice?+
The borewell survey is mainly good engineering practice, though many state tenders and the MNRE technical specification expect correct sizing and a working source. Specific test thresholds in this guide are practice norms, not scheme rules. Confirm any mandatory survey or test requirement with your state nodal agency and the tender.
How does SuryaHub help with borewell survey data?+
SuryaHub stores each site’s survey data — depth, water levels, yield and quality — against the project, so the right pump is selected and the photos and readings are ready for inspection. The mobile field app captures readings on site. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
Survey practice draws on the MNRE pump technical specification and standard hydro-geology guidance. Test thresholds are field norms, not scheme rules — confirm mandatory requirements with your state nodal agency and the tender.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
PM-KUSUM scheme guidelines and pump technical specifications.
- National PM-KUSUM Portal ↗
Component B and C implementation details and site approval flow.
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) ↗
Groundwater data, water-table maps and hydro-geology guidance.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, PM-KUSUM portal & CGWB sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Survey steps follow the MNRE pump specification and standard hydro-geology practice; test thresholds are presented as practice norms to confirm locally, not as scheme rules. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.