6 Tips for Ensuring the Safety of Bore Water
Bore water is a great option if you live in a location that is not supplied by public water systems. However, there are risks associated with bore water. You must follow these tips to ensure that your bore water is safe to drink.
1. Site Your Bore Far From Sources of Contamination
The best site for a bore is as far away as possible from any possible sources of water contamination. These sources include septic tanks, waste disposal areas, and offal holes. Siting your bore in a suitable location is the first and most important step to ensuring that the bore water is safe to drink.
2. Seal the Top of the Bore
It is essential to seal the top of a bore securely to prevent any contaminants from reaching the water that it supplies. You must ensure that the bore casing extends above the surface of the ground. Ideally, you should surround it with sloping concrete to prevent stormwater or any other sources of contamination from entering the bore.
3. Fence the Bore
If your bore is located on land that is used to graze livestock, you should install a fence surrounding the bore to avoid them accessing the top of the bore. Keeping animals away from your bore helps to prevent contamination, as well as preventing injury to the animal or damage to the bore.
4. Install a Backflow Prevention Device
It is important to install a device to prevent backflow on any bore that is used to supply drinking water. This device prevents contaminated water from backflowing into the water source, helping to keep it safe.
5. Check the Water Quality
The best way to be sure that your bore water is safe to drink is to collect a sample that you can send to a laboratory that offers bore water testing. Most laboratories can send you a kit that you can use to collect and package a suitable sample, with instructions.
6. Backfill and Seal Abandoned Bores
If you stop using your bore, you should fill it in and seal it securely, rather than simply abandoning it. Abandoned bores can cause a serious problem by allowing contaminants to enter the aquifer. When this happens, anyone who uses a bore to access the underground water could be at risk. Be responsible and protect your neighbours' water supply by always filling and sealing bores that you no longer need.
Talk to a bore water drilling company for more information.