In this video, I am on-site with a bore.
This is beautiful water but it's never been tested and in this article we are going to cover everything about bore water so you know what to do if you have one, or are thinking of using one.
What is bore water and how does it work?
Bore water is groundwater that has been accessed by drilling a bore into underground water storages and pumping it to the surface.
Just as in this video, you can have a bore on your property, but also, a lot of capital cities are now starting to utilise it as a source of water for their water distribution network.
The government top up the dams with bore water and what happens, as a result, is that you get a lot of calcium coming into your house that over time, strips your body of minerals and eats away at the tapware.
Depending on where you are, it's generally acidic and can have a lot of mineral in it but it can also have other contaminants like iron and other heavy metals.
Is bore water safe to drink?
It depends on what’s in the water.
We've got customers all across Australia that have fallen very sick from drinking water that wasn’t suitable for drinking.
Before you drink water from a bore, it is best to get it tested.
We have customers that call up and say:
“Can you drink bore water? We’ve got a bore, and we'd like you to filter it for the house. What can we do?”
The truth is, we can sell you 15,000 dollars worth of water filtration equipment, and the water will come out the other end beautiful and clean. But this is a shotgun approach because you are trying to remove everything out of the water, so there are no nasties in it.
Generally speaking, water from a bore 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 make it safe for humans.
If it's your only water supply, or you rely on it to drink when your rainwater supply runs out, we recommend you get a water analysis done.
It’s only a couple of hundred dollars, and then you will know exactly what you are drinking.
Simply test the water at least once a year for chemical and microbiological contamination.
What do you get from a water analysis?
Once you have received the full report on your water supply, you can see everything that you're going to be consuming and what needs to be treated using a water filter.
A proper water analysis will tell you the pH level of the water, levels of dissolved salts and other various metals that may be contained in the water.
If any water filtration company is providing filtration solutions without testing the water first they are just guessing, so it’s vitally important to have this water analysis done to make sure nothing is missed.
Now you know it's possible to drink your bore water, what’s next?
Can you filter bore water?
If you’ve tested the water and it is evident that it contains chemical and microbiological contamination you can use a water filter or purifier to make it drinkable, but there are some things that need to be considered first.
What To Do First Before You Get A Water Filter?
Step 1. Is there enough water?
If you come to a new property and you're putting the bore down, the first thing you want to know is, is there plenty of water down there and is it going to be enough water for you to have a continuous supply and keep you going throughout the whole year?
Out in the country, sometimes bore water is the only option available, and in many cases can be a great source and supply of water.
Step 2. What’s the quality of the water?
If you’ve not done so already, get a bore water analysis done by a reputable company. Refer to the water analysis and get filtration that will give you the best quality drinking water.
Step 3. What is the pH level of the water?
The water in the video of this particular bore is at 6 pH, which is a little too acidic, and consuming acidic water can cause health issues.
We recommend you consume water at a pH of 7 or above to avoid getting sick or damaging tissues inside the body by stripping it of all the healthy minerals.
After you have removed the nasties that are in the water and brought it to a pH of 7 or higher - you're good to go!
You can and absolutely should make use of bore water if you can, and the simple approach is just to get the water analysed and choose the perfect bore water purifier.
Do you drink bore water at your place? If so, how does it taste?