💧 Post-Seasonal Borehole Bliss: Your Essential Maintenance Checklist

The rainy season is a blessing, recharging our precious groundwater reserves. But heavy rains, coupled with high usage during the dry season, can introduce new risks to your borehole system.
As the weather shifts, a proactive maintenance check is essential to ensure your water supply remains safe, clean, and reliable throughout the coming months. Neglecting these steps can lead to costly breakdowns, reduced yield, and even water contamination.
Here are Ocean Rock Borehole Drilling's top post-seasonal maintenance tips to keep your borehole operating at peak efficiency.

🧐 Step 1: Inspect and Protect the Borehole Head
The wellhead (or borehole head) is your first line of defense against surface water contamination. The rainy season often brings significant runoff and debris.

• Check the Apron and Drainage: Inspect the concrete apron around the borehole casing. Look for any cracks, gaps, or signs of erosion. The apron's slope must direct rainwater away from the casing. Standing water near the wellhead is a major contamination risk.
• Verify the Sanitary Seal: Ensure the borehole cap and sanitary seal are intact and properly sealed. This prevents small animals, insects, and contaminated surface water from entering the well.
• Clear the Area: Remove any debris, leaves, or mulch that has accumulated around the borehole. Ensure no chemicals, fuels, or animal waste are stored nearby.

🔬 Step 2: The Critical Water Quality Test
The influx of surface water during heavy rain is the primary cause of bacterial and silt contamination in boreholes. Never skip this step after the rainy season, especially if your water is used for drinking.

• Annual Water Test: Schedule an annual professional water quality test. This test should check for:
• Bacteria (e.g., E. coli, Coliform)
• Nitrates
• Minerals (e.g., Iron, Manganese, which cause scaling and discoloration)
• Warning Signs: Immediately test your water if you notice any changes in taste, colour, or odour. If contamination is confirmed, professional borehole disinfection (chlorination) is required to restore water safety.

🛠 Step 3: Pump and System Health Check
Your submersible pump is the heart of the system. The high usage periods often preceding or following the rains can stress the motor, while sediment can affect performance.

• Listen to the Pump: Pay attention to any unusual noises—grinding, knocking, or a motor cycling on and off too frequently. These are common warning signs of wear, a problem with the control box, or running dry.
• Monitor Water Flow and Pressure: A sudden drop in water pressure or flow rate often indicates a problem. This could be a clogged pump inlet, a sediment blockage in the borehole, or a pump malfunction.
• Inspect Electrical Components: Have a professional check the control box, wiring, and safety switches (like dry-run protection). Damage from moisture or pests during the wet season can lead to electrical failure.
• Check Filters and Tanks: If you use storage tanks or filtration systems, ensure inline filters are cleaned or replaced and that the tanks are free of any debris or algae growth.

⏳ Step 4: Address Sediment and Clogging (Professional Service)
Over time, fine sand and silt will accumulate at the bottom of the borehole, especially in areas with unstable geology. Increased water flow from the rains can stir up this sediment. This is known as sediment blockage or silting, which can drastically reduce your borehole's yield and clog your pump.

• The Professional Solution: Ocean Rock recommends borehole cleaning and desluging every 2-3 years, or immediately if you notice murky water or significantly reduced flow. We use specialized equipment for flushing and airlifting to remove accumulated sand and restore maximum yield.
  Don't Wait for a Breakdown—Book Your Service Today!
  Proactive maintenance is far cheaper than emergency repairs. By scheduling a professional post-seasonal inspection now, you ensure your borehole is clean, your pump is efficient, and your water is safe before demand peaks.
  Contact Ocean Rock Borehole Drilling to book your comprehensive post-seasonal borehole service and secure your water future!