Is borehole water safe to drink?
According to the borehole association of South Africa “Groundwater from non-polluted areas is generally safe for domestic purposes – to drink, prepare food, wash clothes, bath and water the garden. But how can we be sure that the chemical, microbiological and physical properties of water are acceptable for domestic users?”
Generally, water from boreholes is already of high quality because it has been filtered through many layers of chalk or sand, so it only needs disinfection with chlorine.
On the whole borehole water is safe to drink; however, it could possibly contain dissolved minerals or contamination. If there are concerns over the waters fitness use, we can have the water tested by an accredited laboratory that will give a detailed report of the water. It is then possible to correct any problems with filtration etc.
All water can be made potable by treatment; however, this will have a cost implication, which will depend upon the amount of treatment required. The local Environmental Health Office is likely to recommend ultra-violet filtration irrespective of the results of analyses, as contaminants could be introduced to any aquifer several miles away.
If the water is to be provided to the public, then a full filtration and UV system should always be installed to suit the analysis results.
How safe is borehole water for drinking?
Usually borehole water is perfectly safe to drink. However, we always recommend carrying out a water testing procedure to fully understand the contents of the water.
There is also legislation in the Private Water Supplies Regulations, making it a requirement to ensure that your water supply is consistent with drinking water standards
In cases where the water is inconsistent with the proposed use be it for drinking, or commercial uses we are able to provide water analysis and water treatment services.
According to Enviro Boreholes “Groundwater coming from non-polluted locations is safe for domestic usage – to consume, prepare food, do laundry, take a bath and water your garden. But how can we be sure that the chemical, microbes and physical properties of the water are suitable for everyday usage?
Human actions can result in groundwater pollution. Hazardous materials from dumps and landfills, septic tanks, agricultural practices, uncontrolled surface spillage and acid rain can migrate deep into the soil and penetrate the groundwater aquifers. In case the aquifers are permeable, the damaging compounds can travel extended distances polluting the groundwater on the way. It is crucial to take into consideration all possible causes of pollution when picking out the best spot to drill a borehole.
All spring and the majority bottled water come from the ground, even though both spring and bottled water resources pump water from boreholes. 64% of South Africans live on groundwater. If you intend to drink from this water source, it is always advisable to have it evaluated at a water lab to make 100% satisfied that it is fit for ingestion. That is to make sure that the water you consume would cause no threat to your health.”
Is borehole water better than the mains?
60% of mains water originates from recycled waste water! To ensure the water maintains satisfactory quality through the long-distance pipe work, mains water contains chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals; your private borehole water supply, maybe with the help of simple filtration system has no requirement for any chemicals and will provide pure drinking water of the very highest quality