Bore Water House Article

What is bore water?

Ground water (commonly known as bore water or well water) is composed of rain water and river water that has seeped into the ground and is stored between soil and rocks. The layers and bodies of water in these underground spaces are known as aquifers¹.Bore water is typically extracted with a pump through a vertical hole known as a bore or well, and makes up 98% of the freshwater on the planet².

Who uses bore water?

For some people living in the Australian outback regions, bore water is the only available source of water, and many townships, farms, and mines are fully reliant on it².As a whole, about a third of Australian water consumption comes from this underground source².As reported by the Bureau of Meteorology, the biggest origin of bore water comes from the Great Artesian Basin in central Australia, which is not great quality water. This is the largest aquifer of its kind in the world. Spanning mainly across Queensland and South Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory also gain access to this resource that covers 22% of Australia. The Basin even contains water that last fell as rain more than one million years ago!².

The importance of this larger bore water source can be proven by a report from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water - that the bore water from the Great Artesian Basin is a vital resource for 180,000 people, 7,600 businesses and 120 towns, generating about 33.2 billion dollars per year².

To put the sheer volume of this water source into perspective, around 65 million GL of bore water is stored here, which is enough water to fill the Sydney Harbour 130,000 times!².

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have also relied on this specific Basin to live in the dry inland areas of Australia for about 65,000 years. These communities maintain a cultural, social, and spiritual connection with the springs and their associated ecological communities and landscape².

Australia is fortunate enough to have multiple basins that overlap the Great Artesian Basin, such as the Murray–Darling, Lake Eyre, and the Bowen Sedimentary basin.

People living in the Northern Territory will also be very familiar with bore water, as this is calculated to be 90% of their water source²,along with Western Australia who also credits 70% of their water to come from bore water. It’s interesting to know approximately 180,000 bores are located in backyards across Perth and Mandurah, as Perth sits on top of a large aquifer, called the Perth Basin³.

All sounds pretty great right?... a naturally occuring underground storage system for water? With greatness, also comes its downfalls. While we can agree that the process and storage of bore water is a magnificent wonder of our environment, we must ask the question - is this water safe for us to use and drink? What contaminants are in bore water that we need to know about and treat?

Is my bore water safe to use?

While bore water can be suitable for domestic non-potable uses, such as toilet flushing, car and clothes washing, as well as watering vegetable gardens, the Government of Western Australia Department of Health has been clear in saying ‘Bore water can be naturally contaminated by minerals, chemicals, bacteria and viruses¹.

The WA Department of Health has continued to say that ‘Bore water should never be used for drinking, bathing, watering edible plants, filling swimming and paddling pools, food preparation or cooking unless it has been tested and treated to the extent necessary for the intended use’¹.

NSW Health also echoes this recommendation that ‘bore water is not used for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene (including cleaning teeth and bathing) without testing and appropriate treatment including disinfection’⁵.

What contaminants are commonly in bore water?

A bore water well might seem like a reliable source of water, but just like anything else, it can succumb to unseen threats. Pumping the water increases the level of oxygen and nutrients, which can create the perfect condition for bacteria to thrive on and may form a biofilm which captures chemicals, minerals, sands, clays and silts¹.Harmful microorganisms can be found in bore water which can cause gastrointestinal illnesses. Some of these microorganisms can even lead to more serious illnesses⁵.

Looking at a specific case, according to the Victorian Department of Health, some bore water supplies found in Victoria have also been found to contain high levels of chemical contaminants, such as arsenic, which they say can cause illness in people who drink the water. Some naturally occurring salts in the water including sulfate and nitrate, can also be harmful in large quantities⁵.

While we know that rural Australian farmers depend on bore water for their crops, for these communities, bore water contaminants can be a challenge to address. A common issue is iron fouling, which means tiny parts of iron clog up the pipes and sprinklers, and impacts their crop water flow.

Why does this happen? Iron is naturally underground in many parts of Australia, and when the stored rainwater underground has low oxygen, the water picks up this iron as it seeps up through the soil to the surface. Then, when the water is pumped out for irrigation, it mixes with air - which has oxygen. This oxygen makes the iron rust, turning the clear water cloudy and reddish and over time affecting their crops.

For regular household owners, this iron in bore water can also be a nuisance. When this iron containing bore water is sprayed on the same area for a long period of time, such as over your gardens, paths or fences, this can result in the rust building up and causing the familiar red stain across your paving and walls³.

Manganese is another contaminant found in bore water that can be an unpleasant problem for your home. This metal isn't exactly hiding in plain sight, but it is certainly widespread. A natural component of rocks and soil, manganese is a common element in our environment. Ever wonder why your laundry gets those stubborn brown or black stains, even though your water seems clear? This can be the result of manganese in your bore water. When manganese-rich water mixes with oxygen (either in the air or from certain washing powders containing oxidising agents), it reacts and forms dark stains that stick to your clothes.

Furthermore, dissolved salts and minerals in bore water can also make the water hard, and can lead to limescale build-up and corrosion in pipes. This can be damaging to your home appliances such as your washing machine, dishwasher and hot water system. It also can mean appliances which heat water have to work harder, increasing energy bills.

We also can’t forget to mention how low pH levels common in bore water can affect your home. When this water with low pH reaches your plumbing system, it can cause corrosion to any metals in your home that it comes in contact with. Metals such as brass, zinc and copper are especially susceptible to corrosion. This can cause build up and damage to your plumbing system. A common symptom is blue/green staining around taps, shower heads, in toilet bowls and basins. This indicates copper from pipework and fittings is leaching into the water. Older homes can also experience issues from lead leaching into the water.

Even though there are a range of contaminants that form naturally in bore water, there are additional ways humans can contribute to contamination. These can be the use of excessive fertilisers and pesticides, poorly maintained septic tanks, leaking fuel and chemical tanks, leaching from waste disposal areas, and accidental spills of chemicals¹.

How can I tell if my bore water is contaminated?

Unfortunately it is not always possible to visually tell if your bore water is contaminated, and this is where the danger comes in. However, some of the common signs can include - an unusual taste, a chemical, sewage, or petrol smell, soap suds and foaming around sprinkler outlets, abnormal colour, dying or wilting plants, and animals showing reluctance to drink the water.

How should I test my bore water?

If bore water is your only water supply, or you rely on it to drink when your rainwater supply runs out, testing the water is an important first step in treatment. The PuretecWater Analysis Test Kitis the first step in understanding what contaminants are in your water and creating a treatment solution that fits your needs. The kit has been designed to make this process easy, simply take a water test sample, use the prepaid shipping bag to return it to Puretec, and we will provide you with the analysis & recommended solutions. The water test will test for the 14 most common contaminants found in water including: pH, conductivity, TDS, total hardness, total iron, silica, nitrate, total manganese copper, chlorine, sodium, total alkalinity, fluoride & sulphates.

How should I treat my bore water with filtration?

Depending on your location and filtration needs, here are some common recommendations:

After the bore water is extracted from the ground, we recommend the PuretecMPB202B MaxiPlus™bag filter housing assembly as a first step of filtration. This is commonly used in high sediment, chemical and process applications where longer service life is required.

If high iron content is an issue in your bore water, ourI-STOP rangereduces iron, manganese, sediment and hydrogen sulphide. These systems are best paired with other filtration systems, and are not a stand alone solution. This prevents staining and iron build up in your pipework, along with the ease of being fully automatic with a volume based backwash to set and forget! These systems are available in 40 and 70 LPM flow rates to suit your needs.

If you have acidic water and is causing corrosion of your pipe-work, or your seeing a green/blue staining on your tap fittings across your sink, bath and shower recesses, aNTS pH neutralisercan be a solution for you. These units effectively utilise calcium carbonate media to lift the pH, which slowly dissolves into the water protecting the plumbing system from corrosion.

If water hardness is present in your bore water, and you want to extend the life of your appliances and spend less time cleaning limescale from your shower screen, aSOL series water softeneris the next step in your filtration flow. A water softener will remove* hard water minerals such as limestone, iron, sulphur, magnesium and calcium.

With this water treatment flow, the bore water is now ready to be stored in your water storage tank to be used when required.

When this treated bore water is called upon, it is then best for this to be filtered through ourHybrid G13whole house water filtration system for a final stage of protection. Why have an additional final step of filtration? With the inclusion of UV, this unit removes* sediment, chemicals including chlorine, bad taste, odour and is highly effective in eliminating bacteria and parasites in your water.

Conclusion

Bore water is a precious resource that sustains life and livelihoods across Australia. While it offers a reliable water supply, it's essential to approach it with caution. The presence of potential contaminants underscores the importance of regular testing and appropriate treatment before consumption. By understanding the risks and taking proactive steps, you can ensure the safety and purity of your bore water.

Our expert team can guide you through the testing process and recommend the most suitable treatment options to protect your family's health and well-being. Don't compromise on the quality of your water. Choose Puretec for clean, safe, and refreshing bore water!

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