[Peter AddisonKeymaster]

If i share a bore with my neighbour, how do i go about developing a control system so that my bore operates independently of my neighbour’s, and the control systems do not clash?

[Peter AddisonKeymaster]

This is a great question, and this issue causes major problems for the communities that use groundwater and government agencies that are responsible for managing water resources. In many parts of the world, including Western Australia, groundwater resources are stressed and the amount drawn out by bores exceeds the amount that recharges through rainfall.
In WA, the Department of Water regulates the amount of water that can be extracted by licensed bore users through a “groundwater allocation plan”. The current Gnangara groundwater areas allocation plan is available at http://www.water.wa.gov.au
This Plan is updated occasionally and a recent plan shows that groundwater storage depletion in the Superficial Aquifer over the last 29 years has been approximately 700 GL. In other words, we have used 700 GL more groundwater from shallow groundwater resources than has been recharged through rainfall, clearly not a sustainable approach. (700 GL is about 10 times the annual abstraction of groundwater by private domestic bores).
The long term impacts of this are that ecosystems, wetlands and lakes dry up, river flow reduces, and domestic and other bore users run out of water.
Options to change this situation are outlined in the Gnangara groundwater areas allocation plan. In the case of individual private domestic bores, you can do your part by ensuring you reduce bore water use, adopt sustainable water practices, including water efficiency measures, and only watering in cool periods of the day.
Please also refer to the “Guideline on bore sustainability” on this web site.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by  Peter Addison.

[Peter AddisonKeymaster]

Thanks Bruce for your question. This issue is common in parts of the Perth coastal plain in Western Australia. Iron in groundwater delivered via bore systems can produce red coloured rust stains on buildings, paths, fences and plants. The stain is a precipitate, ferric hydroxide (rust); this builds up causing discolouration to light coloured surfaces.
Iron may also be present in slimes, or sludges, which can induce severe equipment corrosion over time. Iron deposits can cause problems in irrigation systems, especially those that rely on small orifices for pressure control or delivery via water drippers.
It is difficult to remove the iron at source as it is present in dissolved form in the groundwater. If irrigating with iron-rich groundwater, the system design should use large droplet (low pressure) sprinklers should to limit overspray
and water aeration. Aeration will cause the dissolved iron to precipitate out, and clog sprinklers. I hope this helps you.

[Peter AddisonKeymaster]

Response: This varies from State to State. In WA, we are very fortunate that you don’t require a licence from the Department of Water for a bore that is for domestic purposes including garden use for a property that is under 0.2ha.

This is set out in detail in Department of Water policy documents.

In other States, regulation varies, and so do costs.

[Peter AddisonKeymaster]

Hi Miles, In WA, sprinkler restrictions are in force for Perth metropolitan and the South West (including Albany) between 1 September and 31 May each year. The restrictions roster allows for watering two days a week for scheme water users and three days a week for domestic bore users. Watering can only occur on the rostered day (based on last digit of house number) and before 9 am or after 6 pm. A permanent winter sprinkler ban applies from 1 June to 31 August each year. This information is obtained from the excellent BOM web site.

[Peter AddisonKeymaster]

If you want to use your bore water for your swimming pool, this should be done only if the water quality has been tested first, for health reasons. It is preferable to fill your pool with scheme drinking water because it is treated and safe, good quality water.
Your bore water is likely to contain higher levels of dissolved solids, which may use up the chlorine you use to treat your pool and keep it healthy and free of pathogens (bacteria and other nasties). If you use bore water you will need to increase the quantity of chemicals you use (especially if the water contains a lot of iron) and this will add to your costs. Bore water may also cause staining, due to the dissolved salts and metals.

[Peter AddisonKeymaster]

Great idea; what about costs and how does it compare with “scheme” public water supply?

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