With taps running dry in some areas and the risk of these water supply outages extending to yours, boreholes are the answer to a cost-effective and self-sustaining water source for your home. Having a borehole installed is an investment that will keep on giving returns provided it is used wisely. Regulations regarding the registration of alternative water sources can be misconstrued. Aqua Borehole Solutions would like to clarify what you need to know ahead of having a borehole installed.
The Law When It Comes to Boreholes
Water is a daily necessity and being able to access it when you need it is the biggest benefit of boreholes. With regulations stipulating that some boreholes have to be registered and others not, it can be a tad confusing. If you are interested in installing a borehole on your property and have conducted research on the topic, it has probably raised more unanswered questions.
Aqua Borehole Solutions would like to alleviate your concerns by confirming that boreholes themselves, residential or otherwise, do not need to be registered. The law surrounding boreholes only comes into effect regarding water usage. Residential boreholes fall under what is referred to as ‘Schedule 1 use’ which, in essence, means that as the water from your borehole is only going to be used for your property, the usage does not have to be registered. Boreholes that supply commerce and industry need to either register their water use or apply for a water use licence due to the large quantities of water that they will need.
With each municipality having its own bylaws, you may have to request permission from your municipality before drilling can commence, which we will confirm for you.
Why Are There Laws if Boreholes Don’t Need to be Registered?
The laws that have been put into effect regarding water usage are there to govern the amount of water abstracted from a groundwater source. As much as boreholes provide you with ample water, groundwater is a finite resource and if aquifers are not carefully monitored and naturally replenished, this valuable resource will run dry.
Ensuring that Your Borehole Supply is Adequate
Since no legal “red tape” needs to be dealt with before your residential borehole installation, Aqua Borehole Solutions would like to let you know what you can expect from our full turnkey solutions before, during and after your installation.
- Before drilling commences, we will conduct multiple surveys and use various mapping techniques to determine the presence of groundwater on your property.
- Once an aquifer has been detected, we can start drilling.
- After we have reached the groundwater source, a yield test will be conducted to establish the potential of the borehole and to estimate the sustainable yield that your borehole can produce.
- The yield test assists us in determining the size of the pump to install so that the borehole is not over-pumped. Tests will be conducted to assess the quality of the water and based on the reports, a filtration system will be installed according to your specific requirements.
Throughout the process, we will monitor groundwater levels to ensure that your borehole water is safe to use and sustainable. All that is required from you is to schedule regular maintenance checks. By using the newest technology at our disposal, we have proven time and again that water can be found in the most difficult places.
A Viable Alternative
Well-maintained boreholes are a viable alternative to the municipal water supply providing you with long-term benefits, including a return on your initial investment. Aqua Borehole Solutions’ expertise in borehole drilling, yield tests, pumps and water filtration has significantly assisted the residential, agricultural and mining sectors by providing them with reliable and sustainable water solutions. Our core services extend to qualified plumbing technicians and electricians who work closely with you to ensure that your borehole system suits your preferred requirements. If you are still in doubt as to whether it is worth having a borehole installed, contact us and we will gladly arrange a no-obligation site visit.
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