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FWT has over 20 years experience in installing and servicing borehole pumping equipment. Boreholes are an effective way of tapping into the water bearing aquifer below the ground and pumping the water to the surface, you can abstract up to 20,000 litres per day without an abstraction licence. FWT install service and maintain boreholes and pumping equipment for domestic use, country estates, golf clubs, open loop ground source heat pump installations, farmers, and companies requiring a private supply for their own production processes or for irrigation.
If you use a private borehole supply and require more than 20,000 litres per day you will need an abstraction licence. If the supply is in England you will need to obtain this through the Environment Agency, alternatively, if the supply is in Wales, you will need to contact Natural Resources Wales. FWT will be happy to provide you with more information regarding this if required.
With rising utility costs and water bills, installing a borehole is fast becoming a viable way to obtain ‘cheaper’ water for many people. Depending on water usage, boreholes can generate a rapid investment payback, often cutting costs by up to 80% over a metered mains supply. Typically, a basic 60 metre borehole covers the drilling, the pump, the control system and the connecting pipe work. Costs vary with depth, ground conditions and the system required, so please contact us for a quote. Typically per cubic metre of water a borehole costs less than 10% of average metered water prices. We would strongly recommend that a full hydrogeological assessment is undertaken. Typically the drilling contractors will require this information prior to submission of a quotation as this will indicate the anticipated depth and yield of the borehole.
Boreholes can also be used in conjunction with a ground source heat pump to provide both a private water supply and heat source for your home (please see open loop ground source heat pumps).
Please see the PDFs below that highlight the main component parts of a borehole system and some of the options available when a system is being installed.
FWT offer full installation services along with a courtesy reminder service to assist you with the maintenance of the water supply. Often costs associated with keeping a borehole supply running can be avoided by a regular service and check up.
Compliance with regulations: We offer a control documentation system which is designed to assist you in keeping the required records and managing the water supply. This is supplied in a skeleton format for you to complete and maintain; please contact us for current pricing. This is designed to assist in the creation of an appropriate management and monitoring system and support with regard to water testing; we would be happy to provide you more information regarding this should you wish us to do so.
CCTV inspection of existing boreholes: FWT is able to offer full colour borehole imaging to a depth of 180 metres in zero light conditions. Using our fully portable equipment we can access even remote sites and provide start-to-finish DVD footage of inspections, as well as a stills gallery of important features. Inspection is highly recommended for ensuring the integrity of, for example, borehole liners and/or walls, and invaluable for the investigation of obstructions/fouled equipment etc.
We design systems in line with industry best practice taking a data-led approach to ensure the right specification for your needs. We install systems on a minimum of 32mm pipe work that will cope with the flow rates required of a modern system. The cables used in the installation will be of approved standards for the application, all water fittings used by FWT are WRAS (Water Regulations advisory scheme) approved including the sealed wellhead. Water treatment specification will be site specific to ensure that the equipment is sized correctly. Every installation is carried out by experienced engineers, so you can be sure it is carried out to the highest standard.
The drilling of the borehole is undertaken by a specialist drilling contractor not FWT. Boreholes can vary in depth and design depending upon the level of the water table, quantity of water stored in the ground and the requirements of the customer but typically are between 60-120 vertical metres.
The Borehole pump, cable and support rope are laid out on the surface ready for installation into the borehole. The pump is sized to meet your requirements.
The Borehole pump, cable and support rope are lowered into the borehole either manually or using specialist equipment depending on the weight and size of the equipment.
The borehole chamber is usually below ground. The top of the borehole is sealed with a WRAS approved flange to prevent any surface water contamination. The borehole cable connections are all IP67 rated and the support rope is tied off. The base of the chamber usually has a drain and/or a gravel soakaway.
The borehole chamber is usually constructed out of concrete or plastic rings, however we can supply a completely sealed unit is required again the top of the borehole is sealed with a WRAS approved flange to prevent any surface water contamination. The borehole cable connections are all IP67 rated and the support rope is tied off.
The borehole chamber is usually sealed with a tamperproof 12 tonne rated lid preventing surface water entering the chamber. Differing load ratings are available if required.
This borehole chamber was NOT installed by FWT and is an example of how not to do it. The borehole is not sealed allowing surface water to enter and contaminate the borehole water. The electrics are not IP67 rated(water proof, the lid is not sealed or tamperproof, the borehole is supported by a thin piece of rusty metal, if it fails the pump will fall to the bottom of the borehole.
Depending upon the quantity and rate at which the borehole releases the water, additional surface water storage may be required. The potable water storage tank is sized to your requirements and can be installed on the surface, partially buried or completely buried.
A borehole pump is controlled from the surface, the controls should be housed in a dry frost proof building and will require an un-protected electric supply. There are many options with reference to controlling the pump, including low level cut out or run dry protection. FWT offer a range of controllers for single and 3 phase pumps, ranging from 0.37kW- 2.0kW (larger units can be built to order).