Being able to access an interrupted water supply through borehole drilling has distinct advantages. However, certain regulations need to be met to ensure proper usage of the water and permissions that are required depending on specific requirements. As a reputable and leading borehole drilling company, Aqua Borehole Solutions will assist you in navigating through the “red-tape” labyrinth whether your borehole is needed for commercial or residential use.
Steps to Consider Before Borehole Drilling Can Commence
With the scarcity of water on the rise, more businesses and residential property owners are turning to borehole drilling as their alternate water source. Certain steps need to be followed by property owners before Aqua Borehole Solutions can start the process of water detection, yield tests, drilling and installation of the borehole. What we would like to emphasise is that your borehole does not have to be registered, only its groundwater usage.
- Existing boreholes
Before obtaining the necessary permissions for borehole drilling, do a general check around your neighbourhood or surrounding businesses to see if they have borehole systems. This is a good indication that Aqua Borehole Solutions will be able to access groundwater and perhaps easier for you to obtain municipal permission.
- Permissions
Each municipality follows its by-laws when it comes to alternate water sources, whether through rainwater harvesting or borehole installation. We would advise that you contact your local municipality first to ascertain whether drilling can commence on your property, whether for private or commercial use.
Laws Regarding Water Usage
Groundwater does not belong to property owners; it falls under the realm of the Department of Water and Sanitation as the custodians of the country’s water sources. The National Water Act came into effect to bring about the sustainable use of water. When it comes to the law what needs to be considered with borehole drilling, it’s not the borehole itself but the amount of water that a property owner, residential or commercial, uses. The amount of groundwater that can be used is based on the intended usage and limits, which Aqua Borehole Solutions would like to clarify:
- Schedule 1, for domestic use
If your borehole drilling is for residential purposes, then your water usage does not have to be registered as it is considered as reasonable domestic use. This includes watering gardens and animals that graze. Should more than 10 000 litres of groundwater be used for gardening, then water use has to be registered.
- General authorisation
Should your groundwater use be above that of domestic applications, yet still within general authorisation limits, then it needs to be authorised. This is to limit the volume of water that is abstracted from aquifers. If usage under general authorisation exceeds the given amount, then a licence is required.
These laws, together with the data being generated when drilling for a borehole, have to be managed effectively to ensure that existing groundwater provides a continuous, sustainable supply. The reason behind these rules and regulations is quite simple, water is a finite resource and as such whether you use municipal or an alternate source, it needs to be used sparingly.
What to Expect from the Experts in Borehole Drilling
Making sure that every process of borehole drilling is done in accordance with national standards and following the necessary requirements is up to the experts in borehole installations, Aqua Borehole Solutions. Once the presence of water has been detected, drilling will commence. Yield tests are normally carried out by us to establish the potential of the borehole, and estimate the sustainable yield and hydraulic performance of an individual borehole for water supply. A yield test is a crucial part of the project, as it assists us in determining the correctly-sized pump to use and making sure that the borehole is not over-pumped.
From drilling to drinking, contact us and we will design a borehole system according to your unique requirements. We will assist you with the placement of your system, the required pressure and flow rates and if needed, install a water filtration system.
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