Care home reduces water bill with borehole
We helped a care home reduce their mains water reliance and subsequent high costs by installing a private water borehole.
Getting a hydrogeological survey
The owner of a care home employed us to undertake an independent hydrogeological survey (a prognosis) to determine whether they could have a borehole on their site.
This survey or prognosis is an essential requirement before any drilling commences.
The survey provides an indication of the underlying hydrogeology – detailing the nature of the ground to be drilled, the likely depth at which water will be found and an indication of water quality.
The results of a prognosis enable the borehole design to be properly specified. Whilst the prognosis is not a guarantee of success it will highlight any potential areas of concern at an early stage, enabling us to overcome them.
The information from the prognosis report enabled us to produce a more accurate estimate of the projected costs prior to any further commitment from the client as well.
What happens after the prognosis?
The client was satisfied the capital outlay for a borehole would quickly be reaped from savings made on the mains water supply.
The associated works involved maintaining the mains water as a back-up to the private water supply so that the care home would never be without water.
In recent years the water industry has become aware of an increasing level of alternative supplies, like boreholes, and the system must be correctly designed and installed, and be adequately maintained.
This can only be achieved through the installation of a Type AB air gap to separate the mains water supply and the alternative water system.
The British Standards have published documents on alternative supplies i.e. boreholes as an alternative supply which is BS8525-1-2010.
Once the client gave us the approval to proceed, the total system design was considered before drilling the borehole and the installation of the equipment.
To improve the standards of the borehole supply, the following key points of the installation are highlighted.
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