How to know where to drill a borehole in South Africa? So you have a stand where you want to drill and install a borehole, but you don’t know where exactly to drill the borehole. Now that’s where the initial stage of borehole comes to place, “Borehole Siting”.
Watch Video: Drilling: the importance of good borehole siting
Step-by-step Guide on How to know where to Drill a Borehole in South Africa
- Conduct a site assessment: Before drilling a borehole, it is important to conduct a site assessment to determine the best location for drilling. This includes analyzing the geology and soil conditions of the area, as well as considering factors such as water table depth and potential groundwater contaminants.
- Obtain necessary permits: In South Africa, drilling a borehole requires obtaining a permit from the Department of Water and Sanitation. This process involves submitting an application and providing detailed information about the proposed borehole, including the location and intended use.
- Conduct a hydrogeological study: A hydrogeological study is a detailed analysis of the groundwater potential in a specific area. This study is conducted by a hydrogeologist and includes drilling test holes, analyzing soil samples, and measuring water levels.
- Choose the right drilling method: There are several different drilling methods that can be used to drill a borehole, including rotary drilling, cable tool drilling, and reverse circulation drilling. The method chosen will depend on factors such as the geology of the area and the intended use of the borehole.
- Install a borehole pump and casing: Once the borehole is drilled, a borehole pump and casing must be installed. The casing is used to protect the borehole from contamination and the pump is used to extract water from the borehole.
- Test the borehole: Before using the borehole, it is important to test the water quality to ensure it is safe for consumption or other intended use. This includes testing for contaminants such as bacteria, metals, and chemicals.
- Maintain the borehole: It is important to regularly maintain the borehole to ensure it continues to function properly. This includes regularly inspecting and cleaning the borehole, as well as monitoring water levels and testing water quality.
- Seek Professional help: It is always recommended to seek professional help from a borehole drilling company that has experience and knowledge in drilling boreholes in South Africa, they will guide and help you throughout the process and provide the best advice to ensure a successful borehole drilling.
What does Borehole Sitting include?
The purpose of borehole siting is to identify one or more drilling targets which offer the best possibility of locating a groundwater resource capable of supporting a successful borehole for the intended purpose of use. It is not sufficient to be satisfied with meeting the minimum yield required for a borehole to be deemed successful. Every effort must be made to identify a target which offers the greatest chance of success also in terms of borehole yield. This task falls squarely on the shoulders of the Hydrogeological Consultant. The scope of activities related to this task extends from a pre-fieldwork assessment of the groundwater resource potential in the project area to fieldbased exploration efforts.
The key to successful borehole siting is understanding, amongst others, the geology, structural geology, geohydrology and geomorphology (in particular weathering patterns and profiles) in detail on a specific site. Geophysics is only one of the tools available with which to obtain a better understanding of these aspects.
Skills and Professions needed for Borehole Siting
- The Hydrogeologist: The function of the hydrogeologist in the siting activity is to provide direction in regard to the scope and nature of field exploration efforts. This is achieved on the basis of a preliminary assessment of the groundwater regime in the project area aimed at gauging the mode of groundwater occurrence and the potential yield of groundwater resources locally. The hydrogeologist’s function will later also extend to and cover all other aspects pertaining to the development of groundwater resources as described in this document.
- The Geophysicist: It is the task of this individual to evaluate and interpret geophysical exploration data with a view to identifying suitable drilling targets. The geophysicist must therefore fully understand and appreciate the application and limitations of chosen geophysical exploration techniques in a given geological and hydrogeological regime. This appreciation should be based not only on a sound theoretical understanding but also on proven practical experience associated with an understanding of the geology in the area of investigation.
- The Geotechnician: The geotechnician is the individual normally entrusted with the execution of field surveys and the collection of groundwater exploration and resource development data. It is required that this work be undertaken and documented in such a manner that no ambiguity arises or uncertainty exists in regard to its scope and manner of execution.
