Boreholes

[GB1]

Hi all

Thinking about installing a borehole, keeping our mains as backup. Was just wondering what annual running costs are likely to be.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Depends what the water is like, how much you plan on using and what for.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Hi all

Thinking about installing a borehole, keeping our mains as backup. Was just wondering what annual running costs are likely to be.

Just go for it ....you will never regret it!

 

[PI Stsker]

We drilled two bore holes 2 years ago and use the mains as a back up.
One bore hole we thought would be touch and go if it would cope with demand so drilled two either end of the farm, both piped to a big (and surprisingly cheap) 30k litre plastic tank as a buffer to then feed on from.
by our calculations should have it ‘paid back’ with water savings in 6 years.

 

[Optimus]

Just hope you get the water.we drilled 3 an got nothing.the water is there but deep down.

 

[Pistonbroke]

Some people have trouble with pumps not lasting long. Guessing it depends on what is in the water,hard/ soft etc. I have one just for the house and it's on the third pump in twenty years. £600 for this one but could be over £3000 for some specs.

 

[Treecreeper]

If you are in an area where water quality is clear of impurities such as iron oxide a deep well pump will be relatively trouble free with payback in a few years. If like us you have iron in the water the pump will need lifting and cleaning the wet end every couple of years to prolong the life of the pump. In addition to this we have a cleansing unit to take out iron and manganese,
without this the white wash can have a distinct khaki tinge. We've still had to replace our pump after just 8yrs at a cost of £700 plus labour , mains is about a mile away so no other option.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Some people have trouble with pumps not lasting long. Guessing it depends on what is in the water,hard/ soft etc. I have one just for the house and it's on the third pump in twenty years. £600 for this one but could be over £3000 for some specs.

A lot of the problems stem from using dissimilar metals on or near the pump itself. A quality pump should also be used.
If your borehole is 600 feet down even hauling it up to service is a major operation so quality is paramount!
SS

 

[devonbeef]

don,t forget it costs to pump it, it is surprising how much it adds up, uv filter bulbs to change, iron/ manganese filters to change , water testing, not all plain sailing but overall a plus, unless we all run the ground dry with all these extra holes pumping all over the shop.

 

[upnortheast]

Ours been in 7 ? Years now. Only costs have been 2 pallets of salt a year for the softener. This year short of pressure. Renewed the grit in the filters and cleaned iron deposits from the pipes between filters. £2000 so av cost year £1000 + some leccy. Use about 16 cu m day. Bore is 70 m deep & the pump sits at 30 m. Pump in hole provides all the pressure. For bigger systems usually pump in hole fills header tank which feeds pump set

 

[Pistonbroke]

A lot of the problems stem from using dissimilar metals on or near the pump itself. A quality pump should also be used.
If your borehole is 600 feet down even hauling it up to service is a major operation so quality is paramount!
SS

Iron and manganese down there 120ft. Grundfos pumps,first packed in under warranty

 

[GB1]

Thanks for your replies. Think we will have to look into it as payback will only be about 2 years with the amount we are using. The water has quite a bit of iron in it so will make sure we maintain the filter. I can’t see mains getting cheaper any time soon.

 

[upnortheast]

No brainer f you use significant amounts of water. Not many cap exs payback in 2 years. Good quality filters will auto back flush every night so will go ( in our case 7 years ) before needing major service.
You will be using under 20 cu m a day . Then no EA permissions are required.
Most borehole water is high iron & manganese. Just hope you are lucky it's manageble levels
These are our filters and water softener

 

[e3120]

No brainer f you use significant amounts of water. Not many cap exs payback in 2 years. Good quality filters will auto back flush every night so will go ( in our case 7 years ) before needing major service.
You will be using under 20 cu m a day . Then no EA permissions are required.
Most borehole water is high iron & manganese. Just hope you are lucky it's manageble levels
These are our filters and water softener

View attachment 1122834

Who put your kit in/maintains it please? Have been running untreated for 20 years but now failing on iron and NCC giving grief.

 

[upnortheast]

We use dales water at Ripon who know their stuff but 80 miles away. . There is a firm at haltwhistle haven't used them but heard ok. Maybe called AEG ?

 

[devonbeef]

Who put your kit in/maintains it please? Have been running untreated for 20 years but now failing on iron and NCC giving grief.

NCC?

 

[Fergieman]

NCC?

Northumberland County Council.

 

[Tucker]

Crawford Farms (u-tube) is talking about giving it a go for his new cattle shed. Be interesting to see how it's done.

 

[Will0]

If you’re in the South East, give Mark Shakesby a call for iron filtration

 

[Kentishfarmer]

Would those filters work taking out calcium/chalk? I have to change physical ones in our system every few months (when I remember)
I worked out the electric for ours a couple of years ago before the price hikes, it was around £700/year mainly on the pump pressurising the water distribution rather than the borehole lift pump itself

No brainer f you use significant amounts of water. Not many cap exs payback in 2 years. Good quality filters will auto back flush every night so will go ( in our case 7 years ) before needing major service.
You will be using under 20 cu m a day . Then no EA permissions are required.
Most borehole water is high iron & manganese. Just hope you are lucky it's manageble levels
These are our filters and water softener

View attachment 1122834