What is Water Borehole Drilling?

In this article the water resource specialists at Water Treatment Services guide you through the various stages that need to be considered both before and during the development of a new private water supply formed by drilling a water borehole or water well.

The article explains the different stages involved in borehole drilling. It covers licence applications, site suitability and evaluation, consents to drill, the drilling process itself, the evaluation of water quality and identification of contamination, developing a water treatment programme, and how to maintain water quality standards to keep things safe.

Why drill a water borehole or water well?

If you need access to a supply of fresh water and can’t for whatever reason connect into the mains water supply, then drilling a water borehole (or water well) could be the answer to your problems. Even if you do have a connection to the mains, then a borehole could still provide a reliable and cost effective supply of clean and fresh water for your home or business.

A private water supply like a borehole comes with many advantages, and is of particular benefit for businesses whose operation depends on a large quantity of water. A borehole can help to secure their supply, whatever the time of year, and whatever the weather and environmental conditions.

What is a private water supply?

The advantages of drilling your own water well or borehole are becoming more widely-known, and this has led to an increasing number of people looking into constructing their own private water supply for their business.

How to apply for a water abstraction licence

Although the idea of setting up a private borehole is a simple enough idea, often the drilling, construction, testing and operation of the private supply isn’t always as straightforward. For most private landowners and companies considering setting up their own private water supply, the best advice is to work with an expert consultant who can guide you through the process.

Water borehole drilling is the same as drilling a water well, which is in the most basic terms a hole dug into the earth deep enough to reach the water below. Once you’ve dug the hole, it is then lined with a specialist sleeve made from steel, stainless steel or plastic to stop the water from becoming contaminated or the well from collapsing in on itself.

Pumping equipment is usually installed to bring the water up to the surface, rather than the old-fashioned bucket on a rope system.

Landowners may choose to dig their own borehole, and this is certainly one option if you have the specialist equipment and expertise to do so. Most though ask professional borehole contractors to manage the project for them, as they have experience in dealing with lots of different situations and especially with restricted access.

How to drill a borehole or water well?

Every drilling project is different, and the stages outlined below may take different periods of time depending on how complicated your project is. Whatever the size of the borehole, or the reason for building it, the project can be split into a number of key stages.

Site Assessment
Any project will start with a detailed survey of the site by a professional called a hydrogeologist. They will visit the site to work out where the water is located, what sort of rocks and earth have to be dug through to get to the water, the best location for the borehole, and any other practicalities which might affect the construction or water quality.
Consent to Drill
Once you’ve identified a location for your borehole, you will need to get formal consent to drill an exploratory well. If you are in England or Wales, you should approach the Environment Agency for consent. In Scotland you should contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
Drilling the Borehole
The geologist’s report will lay out a detailed plan and contain drawings which show where the borehole should be drilled, and how to do it. Specialist contractors will follow this plan, drill the borehole or water well to the agreed depths, then line the borehole in a process known as “casing”. The borehole can be cased with liners made from PVC plastic, stainless steel, steel, or a combination of all three.
Borehole Testing
Once the borehole has been drilled and lined, a test pump will be installed to start drawing water from the well. This allows for testing of the pumps and water quality analysis in various situations and under differing environmental conditions.
Water Treatment
If you are using borehole water for drinking purposes then it’s highly likely you will need to treat it before it can be used. Chemical and microbiological analysis of the borehole water should be undertaken to identify the types and levels of any contamination. Once the results are in you can then develop a water treatment programme to deal with any contamination issues.
Operation
Assuming satisfactory results are obtained from the engineering systems and borehole water testing, the landowner owner can then go ahead and install a full system of pipes and pumps to get the water out of the borehole and to where it is needed for the domestic or industrial processes.
Regular Water Quality Testing
The quality of private water supplies can vary and sometimes there may be a health risk. While the responsibility for regulating private water supplies lies with local authorities, regular water testing of the borehole should also be carried out to validate the effectiveness of any treatment to ensure water quality standards are maintained.

Domestic boreholes

Although more commonly associated with rural areas where the mains water supply might be too far away, boreholes are being increasingly installed in urban areas too. Modern technology now means that small domestic boreholes which can be up to 70 metres deep, are only between 110mm and 150mm in diameter. They can easily be installed on a small driveway or other piece of ground close to a house or small factory.

Commercial boreholes

Commercial boreholes are bigger than domestic boreholes as they are typically required to produce more water. A commercial borehole operates at depths of up to 100 metres, and are anything between 250mm and 450mm in diameter. Manhole covers are installed to cover the entrance to the borehole once in place, to make it safe to walk over, drive over, or park cars and other vehicles over.

Water quality testing for private water supplies

What equipment is needed to drill a water borehole?

The type of drilling equipment you will need to create your borehole will depend on both the depth of the water underground and the type of soil and earth the drill has to pass through to get to the water.

In general terms, an auger drill is the best choice when the water well being dug is relatively shallow, and the soil is soft. On the other hand, if you need to dig a deeper than average shaft in poor soil, then a core drill might be a more appropriate choice.

Other specialist drilling equipment, such as hydraulic winches, air compressors and mud pumps might also be required. You will also have to come up with a way of disposing of the soil removed as part of the drilling and excavation process.

What are the advantages of using a borehole for your water supply?

Water boreholes and wells are a great alternative to using mains water, especially in situations where large volumes of water are required, or when the alternative supply is unreliable or of poor quality. A borehole will give you or your organisation a new or alternative source of clean and safe water, delivered at a constant pressure. Once installed, a borehole can also save you a considerable amount of money over the months and years it is in operation.

Specialist water borehole solutions

Water Treatment Services offer a comprehensive range of water borehole support solutions including water quality testing, treatment and laboratory analysis. Find out how we can help you develop access to alternative water supplies, reduce costs and maintain safety and water quality standards.

Our experts can provide advice and full support to help you identify the most appropriate strategies for managing your borehole water and private water supplies.

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained water treatment engineers and technicians we offer cost effective environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and Ireland.

Contact us today to learn how our borehole solutions can help you achieve a safe, alternative and reliable source of water.