• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Call Me Back
  • About
  • Knowledge
📞 Call us on 0330 223 31 31
Water Treatment Services
  • Home
  • Water
    • Applications
      • Boiler Water Treatment
      • Cooling Water Treatment
      • Closed Loop Water Treatment
      • Legionella Control
    • Services
      • Cooling Tower Cleaning
      • Cooling Tower Maintenance
      • Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment
      • Commercial Water Softeners
      • Expert Witness Services
      • Pre-Commission Cleaning
      • Tank Reline & Repair
      • TMV Servicing
      • Water Chlorination & Disinfection
      • Water Leak Detection
      • Water Testing
        • Drinking Water Testing
        • Metals Testing
        • Pool Water Testing
        • BSRIA Closed System Testing
        • SDI Testing & Analysis
        • Trade Effluent Testing
    • Training
      • Water Treatment Training
      • Basic Chemistry of Water
      • Industrial Treatment
      • Pre-Treatment
      • Boiler Treatment
      • Cooling Systems
      • Closed Systems
      • Wastewater Training
      • Advanced Treatments
      • Training Dates 2021
  • Wastewater
    • Metals Testing
    • Trade Effluent Testing
    • Wastewater Training
    • Expert Witness Services
  • Air
    • Ductwork Cleaning
    • Indoor Air Quality
    • Local Exhaust Ventilation Testing
    • Mould Testing
    • Expert Witness Services
  • Energy
  • Legionella
    • Legionella Risk Assessment
    • Legionella Training Courses
      • Legionella Awareness Training
      • Responsible Person Training
      • Water Hygiene Awareness
      • Pseudomonas Training
      • Training Dates 2021
    • Legionella Testing
    • Expert Witness Services
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Knowledge2 / Air3 / What is Water Borehole Drilling?
What is water borehole drilling?

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.

  • Contact us to discuss your borehole requirements

What is water borehole drilling?

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.

Contact Us Today

Tags: Borehole water, water, Water testing, Water well
You might also like
Types of cooling tower All About Cooling Towers
Recreational water quality standards Managing Recreational Water Quality Standards
Testing aerobic colony counts in water Testing Total Aerobic Colony Counts in Water
Concrete mixing water testing Testing Concrete Mixing Water Quality
What is aerobic wastewater treatment? What is Aerobic Wastewater Treatment?
All about wastewater and sewage All About Wastewater Treatment
Using Chlorine Dioxide to Treat Water, Wastewater & Effluent Using Chlorine Dioxide to Treat Water, Wastewater & Industrial Effluents
All About Steam Boilers

Search…

What’s New

  • How to Prevent Mould Growth in the Workplace

    How to Prevent Mould Growth in the Workplace

    In this workplace safety review the environmental hygiene specialists …
  • How Expert Reports Help Resolve Disputes

    How Expert Reports Help Resolve Disputes

    Water Treatment Services experienced expert witnesses provide independent, impartial …
  • How Industrial Wastewater Treatment Works

    How Industrial Wastewater Treatment Works

    In this article the wastewater treatment specialists at WTS …
  • Mining Wastewater Treatment & Water Reuse

    Mining Wastewater Treatment & Water Reuse

    In this article the industrial water treatment specialists at …
  • Can Regular Flushing Control Legionella in Hot & Cold Water Systems?

    Can Regular Flushing Control Legionella in Hot & Cold Water Systems?

    In this article the legionella and water safety specialists …
  • What is Coagulation in Wastewater Treatment?

    What is Coagulation in Wastewater Treatment?

    In this article the industrial water specialists at Water …

REVIEWS

4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5
Water Treatment Services is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars (based on 97 reviews)
Read our reviews

Free Newsletter

Receive exciting features, news, latest research and special offers! Just add your email address and we'll do the rest.

Contact us

Water Treatment Services

[email protected]

Tel: 0330 223 31 31

© Copyright 2022 - EDG Ltd. Operating as Water Treatment Services
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Home
  • About
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • Environment
  • Reviews
  • Sitemap
What is an Expert Witness? What is an expert witness? What is Coagulation in Wastewater Treatment What is Coagulation in Wastewater Treatment?
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OK

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy
Accept settingsHide notification only