Boreholes and Wells: Keeping Your Groundwater Supply Clean and Healthy

15 September 2017
 Categories: Environmental, Blog

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Boreholes and wells are beneficial in residential properties and farms. If you have access to groundwater, you can reduce your cumulative water bills. You can also drought-proof your land and keep your livestock and plants thriving in times of water scarcity and restrictions. Also, you can conserve potable water for drinking and cooking and use the groundwater for general household chores. 

On the other hand, it is important to note that your well and borehole water can be compromised, making it unsuitable for household and farm use. Therefore, you should be diligent in ensuring that your groundwater remains in good condition. Here are some guidelines on keeping your well and borehole water clean and healthy.

Perform Regular Tests

Clear groundwater is not necessarily clean and health. The liquid could contain contaminants with harmful effects when used in the household or around the farm. Therefore, you should commission regular testing of your well and borehole water. Laboratory analysis of the water quality will help you identify possible pollutants. 

For example, there could be biological and chemical contaminants leaching through the soil into your groundwater aquifers. Also, surface runoff might have flowed into the well along with various foreign compounds. If you know the types of pollutants present, you can restore the water quality and prevent further contamination.

Seal the Bore Opening

Contamination of groundwater through the soil and into the aquifers is not common unless the well or borehole is close to a septic field or chemical plant. Most of the pollution comes from the surface. In simple terms, when it rains, the stormwater collects rubbish, chemicals and biological waste. If the bore hole is open, the surface runoff will flow into the reservoir. 

Fortunately, you can keep your borehole clean and healthy by sealing the bore opening. For the best results, you should create a seal between the well casing and the ground. Ideally, the casing should extend above the ground such that the surface runoff will not flow into the ground water. A sloping concrete pad should also surround the borehole for extra security. 

Set an Area of Exclusion

You should protect your groundwater by minimising exposure of the borehole and well to dangerous materials. This practice is particularly critical in farms. You should consider setting a zone of exclusion around the borehole. Do not use herbicides, pesticides and fertiliser close to the well. You should also keep animals and rubbish away from this area.

Finally, you should have an expert inspect the condition of the well periodically.