How do I know if my borehole needs cleaning?

Common signs include a drop in flow rate, increase in electricity consumption, cloudy or discoloured water, strange odours, staining around outlets, or increased pump cycling. A professional inspection can confirm the cause.

What causes boreholes to become blocked or underperform?

The most common causes include mineral scaling (such as iron or manganese), iron bacteria, sediment build-up, corrosion, and biological fouling within the screen or aquifer zone.

Can an old or unused borehole be brought back into use?

Often, yes; many legacy boreholes can be refurbished through cleaning, redevelopment, or re-lining. We assess each case individually to see what’s viable.

How often should a borehole be cleaned?

It depends on usage and water chemistry, but typically every 5 - 10 years is recommended. Heavily used or mineral-rich systems may require more frequent servicing.

Is chemical cleaning safe for drinking water supplies?

Yes, when carried out professionally. We use approved, potable-grade cleaning agents and fully flush and disinfect the borehole after treatment to ensure safety and compliance.

How long does well cleaning take?

Most cleaning jobs are completed within 1 to 3 days, depending on the condition and depth of the borehole. Rehabilitation work may take longer if structural repairs are needed.

Will cleaning improve water pressure or pump performance?

Yes, Removing blockages and build-up reduces pump strain, improves flow and efficiency, and often reduces energy consumption over time.

Well Cleaning & Rehabilitation

Over time, even the best-performing water wells and boreholes can suffer from reduced output, declining water quality, mechanical or electrical issues.

Home > Services > Specialist Drilling > Well Cleaning & Rehabilitation

About

Cleaning & Rehabilitation

Mineral scaling, iron bacteria, siltation and physical damage can all lead to reduced efficiency, or complete failure, if left unchecked.

At Igne, we provide professional well cleaning and rehabilitation services for private, commercial and industrial boreholes across the UK.

Whether your borehole is underperforming or has been out of use for years, we can improve flow rates and extend the working life of your system.

With decades of experience in borehole design, drilling, maintenance and cleaning, Igne is the trusted name in well rehabilitation for both new and legacy systems.

Explainer

What Is Well Cleaning & Rehabilitation?

Well cleaning involves removing physical blockages and biological or mineral build-up within the borehole structure, screen, and surrounding aquifer zone.

Rehabilitation takes this a step further, addressing mechanical, structural or performance-related issues that are preventing the borehole from operating efficiently.

These services are essential to:

Restore declining water yields
Remove mineral deposits, biofouling and silt
Improve water quality and clarity
Reduce pump strain and energy usage
Address contamination risks
Bring disused or legacy boreholes back into service
Avoid the cost of drilling a new well

Whether the problem is slow flow, visible sediment, odour, staining or full system failure, we can help.

You have questions?

We have answers!

Contact the team

The service

Igne's Cleaning & Rehabilitation Services

Our Cleaning & Rehabilitation Services Include:

Borehole inspection using downhole CCTV
Mechanical and chemical cleaning techniques
Airlifting and surging to remove debris
Acid treatment to break down scaling and increase yield in some geology
Disinfection to eliminate iron and sulphur bacteria
Screen cleaning and redevelopment
Re-lining, sealing or refurbishment of borehole components
Flow testing before and after rehabilitation
Reporting and recommendations for future maintenance

Every project begins with a detailed assessment to understand the cause of the problem, and we tailor the cleaning method to your borehole’s construction, age, geology and use.

our clients

Who Is This Service For?

We work with a wide range of borehole owners and operators, including:

Private homeowners
Farms and rural estates
Commercial bottling facilities
Water suppliers and utilities
Industrial users
Hotels, lodges and leisure facilities
Public sector institutions
Developers and consultants managing legacy assets

Whether you use your borehole daily or seasonally, preventative cleaning and rehabilitation can save you from unexpected failure and the high costs of replacement.

You have questions?

We have answers!

Contact the team

How do I know if my borehole needs cleaning?: Common signs include a drop in flow rate, increase in electricity consumption, cloudy or discoloured water, strange odours, staining around outlets, or increased pump cycling. A professional inspection can confirm the cause.
What causes boreholes to become blocked or underperform?: The most common causes include mineral scaling (such as iron or manganese), iron bacteria, sediment build-up, corrosion, and biological fouling within the screen or aquifer zone.
Can an old or unused borehole be brought back into use?: Often, yes; many legacy boreholes can be refurbished through cleaning, redevelopment, or re-lining. We assess each case individually to see what’s viable.
How often should a borehole be cleaned?: It depends on usage and water chemistry, but typically every 5 - 10 years is recommended. Heavily used or mineral-rich systems may require more frequent servicing.
Is chemical cleaning safe for drinking water supplies?: Yes, when carried out professionally. We use approved, potable-grade cleaning agents and fully flush and disinfect the borehole after treatment to ensure safety and compliance.
How long does well cleaning take?: Most cleaning jobs are completed within 1 to 3 days, depending on the condition and depth of the borehole. Rehabilitation work may take longer if structural repairs are needed.
Will cleaning improve water pressure or pump performance?: Yes, Removing blockages and build-up reduces pump strain, improves flow and efficiency, and often reduces energy consumption over time.

The Next Step

A poorly performing borehole doesn’t always need replacing

With the right approach, most wells can be cleaned, restored and put back into reliable service, saving time, cost, disruption and the environment.

Get in touch with Igne today to arrange a borehole assessment and take the first step towards restoring performance, water quality and long-term value.

You have questions?

We have answers!

Contact the team