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How We Build and Set Up a Water Refilling Station: the H-TECH Build Journey
- Built in our workshop on the Eastern Bypass, Kamakis, Ruiru
- 40 dated photos (December 2021 to September 2022) and 9 videos
- Every photo is our own work, watermarked
- Current price range: KSh 110,000 to KSh 1,030,000
On this page
The water refilling station build journey, step by step
These are the same stages as our project planner (Plan → Design → Quote → Deliver → Operate). The photos are from real water refilling station projects. This is an overview; detailed build methods are taught in our paid assembly and manufacturing training.
Plan: tell us what you will sell
What you sell or treat, how many litres a day, where, power and budget. You can do this yourself in the project planner.
Design: we size the machine
Tank, pumps or treatment stages, controls and layout, sized to your volume and site, with easy cleaning and service in mind.
Quote: everything in writing
Your quotation states the model, materials (including the steel grade), branding, delivery, installation and warranty terms.
Build: fabrication in Ruiru
Cabinets, tanks and frames are cut, bent and welded in our workshop; pumps, valves, pipework and the controller and payment system are fitted.
A stainless RO water purifier on its frame, September 2022. Brand: your name on the machine
Cabinets are finished and branded with your business name and colours when ordered.
Fitting the branded front panels to the refilling station, December 2021. Test: before it leaves the workshop
Dispensing accuracy, temperatures for chilled machines, water quality readings for treatment systems, leaks, and every control and payment function.
Bench-testing an H-TECH controller with a dispensing pump, September 2022. Deliver and install
We deliver and install across Kenya, and in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda; other countries on request.
Fitting a water refilling station in a shop, September 2022. Operate: training and service
We train you and your staff to run, clean and price sales, and stay on call for service and spare parts.
Dated photos from our build archive
Every photo below is our own work, dated from the original camera file, from the workshop and from customers' sites.
Watch the build
Short clips from our workshop and installations (9 videos).
More videos on our YouTube channel
What goes into an H-TECH water refilling station
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pre-treatment | Sediment and carbon filters (and a softener where the water is hard) |
| RO or UF unit | RO for borehole and high-TDS water; UF for low-TDS council water |
| UV sterilizer | Final disinfection before storage or refill |
| Control panel | Stainless panel with switchgear and, on larger plants, a PLC display and conductivity meter (pictured) |
| Storage tank | Clean, food-grade storage for treated water |
| Refill points and bottle rinser | Branded front with refill bays; a rinser cleans bottles before filling |
Choices you make before we build
- Water source: borehole, council water or delivered water decides RO or UF. A laboratory water test comes first.
- Capacity: litres per hour (125, 250, 500 or 1000 LPH) sized to the bottles you expect to fill per day. See the RO plant size guide.
- Layout: treatment, storage and refill points in the order water flows, with drainage and space for customers. See refill shop layout and branding.
- Branding: your shop name, price and delivery number on the front panels, as in the photos.
- Approvals: county public health requirements for refill shops; KEBS for sealed bottled water. See licences.
Water refilling station prices
Current H-TECH water refilling station prices (the full range is on the price list).
| Model | Size / capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 100 LITTERS WATER VENDING ATM | 100 L | KSh 120,000 |
| H-TECH 125 LPH 3-in-1 Borehole RO Water Vending Machine | 125 LPH | KSh 330,000 |
| H-Tech RO Vending Station 125 LPH | 125 LPH | KSh 370,000 |
| H-Tech RO Vending Station 125 LPH with Antiscalant | 125 LPH | KSh 420,000 |
| 200 LITERS WATER VENDING MACHINE | 200 L | KSh 150,000 |
| 250 LITERS WATER ATM MACHINE | 250 L | KSh 170,000 |
| H-Tech 3-in-1 Municipal UF 250L | 250 L | KSh 240,000 |
| H-Tech RO Vending Station 250 LPH | 250 LPH | KSh 490,000 |
| H-Tech RO Vending Station 250 LPH with Antiscalant | 250 LPH | KSh 540,000 |
| 300 LITERS WATER ATM MACHINE | 300 L | KSh 190,000 |
Current listed prices incl. VAT (updated 20 October 2026). Full range: Water vending machines price list.
Frequently asked questions
How do you set up a water refilling station?
Test the water, size the treatment to your daily litres, choose a shop with water, power and drainage, then we build the treatment, storage and refill points, deliver, install, test and train your staff. The first station pictured went from workshop assembly to installed in four days (19–22 December 2021).
How much does it cost to build a water refilling station in Kenya?
Our water vending machines and complete refilling stations cost KSh 110,000 to KSh 1,030,000 at current listed prices. Rent, shop fit-out, bottles and licences are extra; see the cost breakdown guide.
What equipment is needed for a water refilling station?
Pre-treatment filters, an RO or UF unit, UV sterilization, a clean storage tank, refill points, a bottle rinser and a control panel. Packaging and sealing equipment is added if you sell sealed bottles.
What is the best layout for a water refilling station?
Follow the water: treatment, then storage, then refill and rinse points at the front where customers stand, with drainage under the refill area and space to queue.
How long does it take to install a water refilling station?
For the first station on this page, delivery and installation in the shop took two days (21–22 December 2021). Each project's timeline is confirmed on its quotation.
Is water from a refilling station safe?
Yes, when the treatment suits the water source, filters and UV are maintained and the water is tested regularly.
Related guides
- How to Start a Water Refilling Business in Kenya: Equipment, Approvals and Costs
- How Much Does It Cost to Start a Water Refilling Business in Kenya?
- Water Refill Shop Layout and Branding: Ideas That Win Customers
- Which RO Vending Plant Size Do You Need? 125, 250, 500 or 1000 LPH
- From Borehole to Water Refill Station: A Step-by-Step Plan
- What a Site Needs Before You Install a Water Vending Machine