Borehole Problems

If you don't know the safe pumping rate of your borehole, you risk over-pumping and damaging the aquifer. A yield test defines the sustainable limit.

When multiple properties share a single borehole, lack of management leads to pressure drops and disputes over water usage and electricity costs.

An unsealed borehole head allows contamination from the surface to enter directly into the water source.

Iron bacteria form a thick biofilm that clogs systems. It is not just dirt—it is a living organism that needs to be treated properly.

Borehole yield can change with seasons. In dry periods, the water level drops, reducing available supply.

A casing collapse means the structural lining of the borehole has failed. This either traps the pump or allows soil to enter the hole, effectively choking the water source.

If borehole performance drops over time, it usually means internal wear, scaling, or damage inside the pump or column pipe. The only way to confirm this is to physically inspect the system.

Milky water usually means air is being drawn into the system. This happens when the pump intake is too close to the water level or the borehole cannot sustain the pumping rate.

A borehole pump running dry means the water level has dropped below the pump intake. Running a submersible pump without water cooling can quickly damage the motor and impellers.

Strong odours or discoloured borehole water usually indicate dissolved minerals or bacteria reacting once the water reaches air or storage.