If you’re using a borehole for the first time or perhaps you’re thinking of installing one, you may at some point have thought:
Where does borehole water come from? Is it safe to drink borehole water? How long does borehole water last? Is borehole water environmentally friendly? What are the disadvantages of a borehole? Is it safe to bathe in borehole water?
Don’t worry. We’ll provide you with the best answers to these questions below. So read until the end of this article to learn more.
Where Does Borehole Water Come From?
Borehole water comes from deep underground. It is rainwater that has piled up over time. After rain falls, it sinks to the ground. This water then seeps through cracks and spaces of the underground sand, soil and rock, forming aquifers.
Aquifers are formed from things like gravel, sand, rock and sandstone. They are water-bearing rocks that are permeable because of their spaces. These spaces make it easy for groundwater to pass through.
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The spaces in aquifers vary and this may affect how water moves in and out of the rocks. If it’s wide, the water flow is good. But if it isn’t, the flow is affected. Another factor that affects the speed of water flow is how well connected the spaces are.
Is It Safe to Drink Borehole Water?
Yes, it is safe to drink borehole water. But to be double-sure the water is contaminant-free ensure that you have it tested first. Make sure the test is consistent with drinking water standards.
When Should I Get My Borehole Water Treated?
You should test your borehole water regularly. The National Ground Water Association advises doing it at least once a year. However, we advise that you test your borehole water if the well is broken or whenever there is a change the water’s taste, colour, or appearance.
When testing the borehole water, ensure that you test it for common impurities like bacteria, nitrates/nitrites, iron and manganese. Also, check that the water’s pH level is okay.
How Long Does Borehole Water Last?
A borehole can last for generations—but this largely depends on how well-constructed the borehole is. For instance, some boreholes constructed in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s are still working well today.
Besides, with the rapid rise in modern technology, borehole experts have found better and innovative ways of drilling boreholes. Fortunately, these improved techniques ensure boreholes last longer and don’t collapse frequently.
Is Borehole Water Environmentally Friendly?
There’s this talk that drilling borehole is harmful to the environment. People think drilling the ground in search of clean water is a potential hazard. That it could pollute the water source. But it’s not always true. If you hire a borehole contractor that follows the best drilling practices, there are zero chances that your borehole will be polluted.
Here’s another shocker—you can drill a borehole without the government’s approval — they aren’t worried about its impact on the environment.
Think of it. If they were, people won’t drill without their approval.
Yet, the best part in all this is that you can extract up to 20,000 litres a day. That’s roughly 7.3 million a year!
Still unconvinced? There’s more!
Since borehole water comes from a natural source, it reduces carbon emissions that cause climate change, making it environmentally friendly. For businesses that use borehole water—depending on their usage—the reduction may reach as high as 90%. As for private large water users, this cut can be over 22,000kg of CO2.
Apart from this, experts at the International Water Association (IWA) also agree that both treated wastewater and borehole water can reduce CO2 and other greenhouses gases that cause climate change.
What Are the Advantages of Boreholes?
1. Cost
Installing a borehole is quite expensive and this can be a turnoff. But if you can wave this off and pay the installation price, what you’ll get eventually is free water. That means you won’t spend a dime on water bills. Rather, you’ll be able to save more and within a short period gather all the money you spent installing the borehole. In short, installing a borehole is a lifetime investment that yields loads of profit.
2. Rewarding Financial Benefits
Secondly, boreholes have huge financial benefits. They offer long-term savings solutions and help save costs generated from monthly light bills. That means you’ll have a lot of money to do a lot of other things that otherwise you would have spent on paying for water and light.
3. Refreshing Taste
Compared to government-supplied water and treated water, borehole water has a pleasant and refreshing taste. A lot of people prefer it to treated water because it’s natural and isn’t chemically treated.
4. Energy Efficiency
Though sometimes, borehole installation can be rigorous, it has a less negative impact on the environment compared to the large scale water extraction of municipal water. In addition, the water filtering process on borehole is energy efficient, has a positive effect on climate change, and helps minimise your energy usage.
What Are the Disadvantages of Boreholes?
1. Drilling Practices
While a borehole is widely considered a good source of rich, natural water, the groundwater may get contaminated if poorly drilled. Normally, when drilling a borehole, contractors must follow the best drilling practices to avoid polluting the groundwater. If they don’t, they could contaminate the entire groundwater. That’s why hiring a reputable borehole contractor is crucial.
2. Contamination
Secondly, although groundwater is deep below the Earth’s surface, it can still get contaminated. This is very likely to happen if the area or environment close to the borehole is highly polluted. In this case, testing the water regularly is vital.
3. Health
Although borehole water is more natural and cleaner than the water you get from your mains, it may cause serious health issues due to a lack of purifying agents. As a result, test and purify the water regularly to avoid falling sick. You can install a water purifying and treatment system to enjoy cleaner, contaminant-free water.
4. Maintenance
Lastly, for boreholes to last, they need to be well-maintained. Yet this can be expensive, especially if you’re planning to replace the pump. Apart from this, boreholes consume a considerable amount of electricity which means increased light bills for you.
5. Sustainability
Because they’re considered safer than wells, boreholes are now in almost every home. Though this is good in one way, it is also a problem in another. As we keep drilling and installing more boreholes, it reduces the water table, which can affect the environment in the long run.
Is It Safe to Bathe in Borehole Water?
According to the Department of Health, Western Australia, borehole water is generally safe to use for domestic activities such as toilet flushing, cars and clothes washing, and even for irrigating vegetable gardens.
However, if you’re thinking about drinking borehole water, you should have it tested for impurities first. That said, if your borehole water has been tested and declared contaminant-free, it is safe to bathe with it. Otherwise, don’t! Not until you’ve it tested.
Likewise drinking or cooking with it, and filling swimming and padding pools with it. Make sure to have tested and treated if it’s contaminated.
Is Groundwater Safe to Drink?
According to the US Centre for Disease Control, most groundwater is safe to use. But groundwater sources can become contaminated with germs like viruses and bacteria, including chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides. As a result, groundwater can make you sick because it’s unhealthy.
Also, even though it’s deep underground, human activities like mining and construction, poorly maintained septic systems, incorrect use of fertilisers, and chemical spills may contaminate groundwater. That’s why it’s good to test it regularly (at least once a year).
References:
https://www.boreholesolutions.co.uk/category/blog/
https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Bore-water