A question most drilling companies get asked frequently is “How much will a borehole installation cost?” Even though this might seem like an uncomplicated question to ask, the answer definitely isn’t. The answer is dependent on various factors.
The cost of a borehole is mostly reliant on on its depth, the amount of casing used and the pump specifications. The variety of rock borehole drilling companies have to drill through furthermore affects the cost, along with the ground conditions. Although many individuals assume the easiest drilling to be into soft and loose surfaces, the opposite holds true. Keeping the borehole open during the drilling process can be difficult especially if the hole is sinking in on itself as a result of the loose and unstable ground.
The costs of installing a borehole
According to the Borehole Water Journal Online Vol 103, homeowners who are looking to have a borehole installed on their property should factor in the following expenses:
- Site selection, which is used to determine whether and where to locate a groundwater production borehole.
- Borehole construction. This includes the mobilisation of equipment to the site and back to the base, drilling per metre, casing entailing supply and installation of solid casing and screen, gravel pack, sanitary seal and well-head construction, and well development entailing cleaning of the borehole after construction.
- Pumping test cost for post-construction assessment of borehole and aquifer performance.
Homeowners do not have to register their boreholes if they plan to use the water for small gardening.
- Hadrochemical analysis cost of water quality testing for an intended use.
- Installation cost for a pump and/or potable water storage tank and reticulation system.
- Maintenance costs for annual checks to the pumping equipment, pipe work and repairs should there be any failures.
- Electricity costs for running the pump each time it is switched on.
According to Enviro Boreholes “The main costs you would incur would be from drilling, yield testing as well as equipment used. The Borehole Water Association of South Africa says the average drill cost is around 600 a meter, but this can be as much as R900 per meter depending on the company.
Yield testing will set you back somewhere between R2,000 and R5, 000 while the equipment might cost between R20, 000 and R40, 000. The type of stone we have to drill into, the drilling technique plus the terrain conditions also affect the fee. Additional costs might also be required if, for instance, you have to hire a motorized hoist to elevate the hydraulic rig machine into your backyard.”