Be spot-on when sinking a borehole

Water is a scarce resource in South Africa and identifying the right place to drill for it, is often difficult. Several factors must be considered, as the cost of a borehole is extremely high.

- Koos du Pisanie

According to Gert Nel, a geohydrologist at SRK Consulting, there are unfortunately no shortcuts when it comes to locating water. “Geology and rainfall are mainly responsible for the occurrence of abstractable groundwater. Science does not conform to the methods employed by traditional water finders. Water finders are also often guided by the experience they’ve gained in a specific area (geology).”

Do it scientifically

He explains that using scientific methods to locate water always starts with a study of the specific area. “We will assess databases of boreholes in the wider area. This teaches us more about historical successes and failures. The information is compared to the geology and geological structures in the area, so as to filter it.”

A dry hole does not necessarily mean that the area has no water; instead, it can indicate that the borehole was sunk in the wrong place. A geohydrologist who is convinced that he understands the geology of the area, will choose areas that can be drilled using geological methods to ensure the best chance of finding water.