A borehole is a significant investment in securing a reliable water source for your home, farm, or business.
Why Is My Borehole Water Yield Low? 🧐
Low water yield is generally caused by one of three core issues: natural/geological factors, borehole infrastructure problems, or equipment malfunction.
1. Natural Factors
Seasonal Drought or Water Table Drop: The most common cause. Groundwater levels naturally fluctuate, especially during prolonged dry seasons or droughts, leading to a temporary drop in the water available to your borehole.
Aquifer Depletion: While less common for domestic boreholes, excessive water usage in your immediate area can temporarily lower the local water table, causing your borehole to draw less water.
Natural Geology: Sometimes, the borehole simply taps into a low-yielding formation. If the surrounding rock is dense bedrock without many fractures, the natural recharge rate into the hole will be low.
2. Borehole Infrastructure Problems
Clogging and Incrustation: Over time, minerals like iron, manganese, or calcium, along with bio-fouling (bacterial slime/biofilms), can build up and clog the filter pack and the borehole screen.
This effectively chokes the entry point, severely restricting the water flow into the borehole. This is a very common cause of reduced yield. Sediment and Sand Ingress: If the borehole was improperly developed during drilling, or if the screen or casing is damaged, fine sediment (silt and sand) can enter the borehole.
This material accumulates at the bottom, reducing the depth available for water collection and sometimes clogging the pump itself. Casing or Screen Damage: Corrosion or mechanical failure of the borehole casing or screen can allow fines or foreign material to enter, reducing yield and affecting water quality.
3. Equipment Malfunction
Pump Failure or Inefficiency: A common and often misdiagnosed cause. The issue might not be the borehole itself, but the pump. Worn-out impellers, a leaky riser pipe (meaning pumped water flows back down), or a pump that is no longer running at its optimal depth can all drastically reduce the delivered water volume.
Pump Over-Pumping: Running your pump too fast, and withdrawing water at a rate higher than the borehole's sustainable yield, causes the dynamic water level to drop below the pump intake.
This results in the pump sucking air, running dry, and delivering a low volume of water, while also risking damage to the pump.
How Can Nakiso Borehole Drilling Fix It?
Addressing a low-yield borehole requires professional expertise to accurately diagnose the root cause. At Nakiso Borehole Drilling, we offer a range of targeted solutions designed to restore and maximise your water flow.
Preventative Maintenance is Key
The best way to maintain a healthy borehole yield is through regular professional maintenance.
Periodic Inspection: A professional inspection every 3-5 years, including a camera survey, can detect early signs of incrustation or pump wear.
Regular Flushing: Scheduling routine borehole flushing (especially in areas with high mineral content) prevents sediment and scale buildup from becoming severe problems.
Sustainable Pumping: Ensure your pump system is correctly sized and includes dry-run protection to prevent over-pumping, which can cause both low yield and severe pump damage.
Don't let a low-yield borehole disrupt your life. Contact Nakiso Borehole Drilling today for a professional assessment and expert solution tailored to your needs.
Nakiso Borehole Drilling: Your Trusted Partner for Safe, Sustainable Water Access
At Nakiso Borehole Drilling, we are your comprehensive partner for unlocking reliable water on your property. Our highly skilled team tackles all drilling projects, from standard boreholes to specialized Blast Hole and RC Drilling. We handle everything in-house for a seamless experience, encompassing expert borehole siting, efficient drilling, and pump installation – solar, electric, or manual – tailored to your specific needs. With Nakiso, your reliable water source is just a drill away.We don't just strive to be the best; we maintain the industry's strictest quality standards and are committed to sustainable practices for the future of Zimbabwe's water security.
For All Your Borehole Drilling Services Contact Us:
Five Facts About Borehole Drilling That You Need To Take Note Of:
1. Know Your Borehole Casings:The Preferred Borehole Casing In Zimbabwe Is Class 9 and 10 (Pressure Classes.)This is because Class 9 and Class 10 Casings are more collapse resistant. The strength of a Casing is often described as collapse resistance.
2. Borehole Drilling Depth: The exact depth, of where the water is located, cannot be established by the drilling contractor nor the Water Surveyor (Borehole Siter).
3. The Is No 100% Guarantee On Water: It is important to note that it is never a 100% guarantee that any hole will yield water, the amount and water quality can also not be guaranteed by the drilling contractor and water surveyor.
4. Borehole Siting or Water Surveying Is Important: Making use of a hydrologist or traditional water diviner will increase your chances of having a successful borehole that will yield a sufficient amount of water.
5. Know The Risks: The risk of the borehole drilling lies with the property owner. The client will still be liable for the drilling costs irrespective of a borehole yielding water or not.
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Our Branches and Our Contacts
Churchill Ave Branch
Business Offices (HQ):55 Churchill Avenue,
Alexandra Park,
Harare North,
Zimbabwe.
Call Us Today:
Office Numbers: +263 867 71 88844
Sales: +263 78 860 8009
Operations: +263 78 860 8005
Marketing: +263 78 876 6701
Email: info@nakisoboreholes.co.zw
Website: www.nakisoboreholes.co.zw
Bluff Hill Branch
Business Offices:36 St. Anthans Drive,
Bluff Hill,
Harare,
Zimbabwe.
Call Us Today:
Office Numbers: +263 71 494 0883
Sales: +263 78 860 8009
Operations: +263 78 860 8005
Marketing: +263 78 876 6701
Email: info@nakisoboreholes.co.zw
Website: www.nakisoboreholes.co.zw
