Has the thought crossed your mind about whether or not to explore the option of getting a water borehole, but you are still not convinced if it is a good idea? Stay with us as we discuss the benefits of a water borehole, regardless of whether it is for your commercial, industrial or farming, or residential needs.
What is a Water Borehole?
Before we can jump right into the benefits of having a water borehole, let’s decipher exactly what a water borehole is. They are also known as water wells and are deep, narrow wells that tap into the naturally occurring water found underground.
Underground water passes through layers of rock and chalk, which act as natural filters to “clean” the water. Often, this water supply is actually purer than that which private water supply companies provide. To use this water, you need to install a high-efficiency pump to extract the water from the permeable rock.
Where Does Borehole Water Come From?
Borehole water is naturally occurring water from rain and rivers that leak through layers of rock underground. Water layers of clay or rock separate and restrict underground bodies of water at varying depths across different areas – these areas are known as aquifers.
Natural cracking can boost the aquifer yield of hard rock aquifers. Boreholes are drilled into this network of cracks that hold the underground bodies of water.
South African Drinking Water
If the water is taken from taps in the urban areas of South Africa, then it is considered safe to drink and cook with. However, it is important to remember that not all tap water is safe for consumption, especially in rural areas. For this reason, some rural areas make use of borehole water systems and store their water in containers before purification.
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According to statistics South Africa, approximately 89.4% of South African households have access to tap water. On a national level, 62% of these households rated the quality of the water-related services they received as “good.”
So, what if you could take your water supply in South Africa into your hands and manage your supply with the limited need of municipality services? With borehole water, you can!
The Benefits of Borehole Water
Below is a list of the most popular benefits of having a water borehole:
- Long Term Investment
- Increases Property Value
- Saving Money
- Health Benefits
- Easy to Maintain
- Less Demand for Municipality Services
- Consistent Supply
- Works For Almost Any Property Type
Let’s explore these benefits in detail:
Is a Long-Term Investment
Having a water borehole system is a long-term investment. While the upfront costs may have you concerned for the large capital outlay, a well-constructed water borehole should last you at least ten to fifteen years – if not longer with proper maintenance. Once the pump has been installed, then the running costs are minimal for that period.
Remember, however, as the saying goes: “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” If you are going to install a sub-par borehole pump to save money, then the poor quality may have you spending more money in the future than you would have with a quality system that was worth spending more on initially. Always use a reputable company to install your borehole water pump, such as Jordan Pumps.
Having a well-maintained borehole water pump system can increase your property value and ultimately prove to be a valuable long-term investment.
Increases Property Value
South Africa is not immune to the trying times of drought. We have seen periods of drought before, especially in the Western Cape. Although the periods do eventually come to an end, or at least ease a little, a water borehole helps alleviate the need to use the municipality’s water services. It returns the favour by helping ease the strain on their demand too.
Having your own groundwater source of water places you in a better position to take care of your property during times of water shortages. This essentially adds value to your property and allows you to take better care of your property too, because you can water your garden without restrictions.
Helps You Save Money
Once you have gotten past the initial capital outlay of the borehole pump system, you can enjoy the benefits of it saving you money. Not only will you able to cut down on your use of water from the municipality, but you will also save money on your water tariffs.
You will also not have to worry about any fines imposed during times of water restrictions since your source is not linked to that of municipal services. When municipal water use is capped at 50 litres per person, per day, and you exceed this amount, then you are heavily fined for the additional water usage. Having your own water borehole means you can use your own water and avoid usage penalties.
They Are Easy to Maintain
As we mentioned earlier, the quality of your borehole water pump is important. If you have properly installed a high-quality borehole pump, then the maintenance thereafter is a breeze.
Another benefit is that should something happen to a municipal pipe; you need to rely on public services to do the repair. In South Africa, this could take anywhere from hours to days – leaving you without a supply of water. Having your own borehole water supply means you are in charge of your own maintenance and can take matters into your hands should a problem occur.
Borehole water also allows you to enjoy an uninterrupted water supply, especially when the municipal lines become temporarily unavailable for their own maintenance measure. Could anyone forget the threat of “Day Zero” in the Cape Town area when the municipality announced the possibility of a full water supply cut-off?
Borehole Water Has Health Benefits
Borehole water is naturally occurring, which means that it has not been treated or altered with any artificial chemicals, unlike our tap water. Municipal water is treated and chlorinated in order to render it safe for human consumption, but are those chemicals any good for our bodies?
Borehole water is rich in naturally occurring minerals, which are good for us. These minerals are lost in our municipal water supply because the process of decontamination also removes all the good minerals and nutrients.
Not only is borehole water healthier to drink, but it is also kinder to your skin when bathing or showering in it. This is especially beneficial for those who suffer from skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.
Versatility
Borehole water pumps are perfect for both commercial and personal use. They help reduce the demand placed on local municipalities for agricultural projects and farming-related activities. This is the same for construction projects.
The versatility of the borehole pumps means they can be used for irrigation, watering livestock, filling reservoir wells, and maintaining gardens and parks.
The Bottom Line
Regardless of whether you want a borehole water system for commercial or personal use, they prove effective in providing a consistent water supply and are eco-friendly too. While you save money and reduce the hassle of local water municipalities, you will enjoy several benefits and minimal maintenance woes.
Sold on installing a borehole water pump on your property? Contact Jordan Pumps today!
