Borehole Checklist
Borehole Checklist is essential when doing your own initial research to get a general idea of the success of the boreholes in your area. Although this doesn’t replace a professional opinion, it will help to set your expectations.
Take this opportunity to get to know your neighbours a little better and then ask them the following questions:
- Do they own or have a borehole?
- How much water does their borehole yield?
- How deep is your borehole?
Contact a geohydrologist to site the best location to drill the borehole. In an urban environment, factors such as power lines, pipelines and underground cables need to be considered as they influence the instrument readings and the position of the hole.
Borehole Checklist must have the following:
- The Driller (First on your Borehole Checklist)
- Get references or reviews from previous new and old clients who have used the driller, this will assist you with an indication of the long-term quality of the driller’s work.
- Is the driller’s equipment clean and in good condition? Look for:
- No oil or fuel leaks
- No frayed cables
- All the operators are equipped with personal protection equipment
- People are kept at a safe distance from the machines.
Ensure your Borehole Checklist consists of a lot of background research, it is advisable that you know everything about boreholes.
You need to know what type of borehole screens will be used? The type of formation that contains the water will have a significant influence on this. Soft, sandy formations need to be screened to let the water in but stop the sand from getting into the borehole. As tolerating sand to enter the pump will cause early failure not only to the pump but the entire installation process.
If you take professional help in establishing the estimated depth at which a water bearing formation can be expected, you will need to communicate this to potential drilling companies. Deep boreholes (+150m) can require larger machines that are not available to some contractors or might not fit into your property.
- The Pump Installer
The pump installer must provide you with proper yield, drawdown and step tests. This is compulsory to select the correct pump for your needs. If the installer does not know what this means, do not use this installer.
Other factors to consider for Borehole Checklist
While you ticking your Borehole Checklist, bear in mind that the drilling contractor cannot guarantee that the borehole will intersect water therefore, you take a certain amount of risk, as you will be responsible for the cost of the borehole, regardless of what the ultimate yield is.