Borewell Drilling in Coimbatore What to Check

No script

For many homes, farms and factories in and around Coimbatore, a borewell is the main or backup water source. Drilling one is expensive and cannot be undone, so it pays to plan carefully. This guide covers what to check before, during and after drilling, and the questions to put to a borewell contractor.

Before You Drill

Check whether you really need a new bore. If you already have an old borewell with a falling yield, ask a pump mechanic to check it first. Sometimes the pump is set at the wrong depth or the pipe is leaking, and the bore itself is still usable.

Talk to neighbours. Borewells within a few hundred metres are the best clue to what lies under your plot: how deep they had to go, whether the water is hard or salty, and whether they run dry in summer.

Check the rules. Groundwater rules vary with location, plot use and the current government orders. Before drilling, ask your local body - the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, your municipality or village panchayat - what permission is needed. For commercial, industrial or large-scale use, also ask whether a groundwater clearance is required. Keep any approval in writing.

Know your plot limits. Keep the borewell well away from septic tanks, soak pits and sewer lines, and inside your own boundary. Leave room for the drilling rig lorry to enter and park.

Finding the Point

Many families in Kovai still call a traditional water diviner. Others hire a geologist or a hydrogeological survey firm that uses resistivity equipment to read the layers below the ground. A survey does not guarantee water, but it reduces guesswork and gives you a written report. Whichever you use, ask what the result is based on and do not accept promises of a "sure point".

Choosing a Borewell Contractor

Ask each contractor:

1. Rate per foot - and whether the rate changes after a certain depth or in hard rock.
2. Casing pipe - the type, diameter and class of pipe used through the soil and weathered rock, and its rate per foot or per length.
3. Maximum depth - agree in writing where to stop if no water is found, so you are not billed for endless drilling.
4. Dry bore billing - how a failed bore is charged.
5. Flushing and yield test - whether they will flush the bore and measure the yield after drilling.
6. Cleanup - drilling produces a lot of slurry and dust; who clears it, and how the neighbours' walls and vehicles will be protected.

Get quotes from at least two contractors. Very cheap per-foot rates often come with extra charges for casing, hard rock or cleanup.

On Drilling Day

• Be present, or send someone you trust, for the whole drilling.
• Note the depth when water is first struck and when the flow improves; a good contractor will call it out.
• Count the drill rods to check the final depth - each rod is a fixed length, so rods x length = depth.
• Watch the casing pipe going in and count the lengths.
• Take photos and video of the flow at the end.
• Ask for a bill that lists the total depth, casing length and all charges.

Choosing the Pump

Once you know the yield and water level, choose the pump with a pump dealer or electrician rather than guessing:

• Submersible pumps are the usual choice for deep bores. The stages and horsepower depend on the depth to water and the height to your tank.
• Pump depth should be set below the lowest summer water level but not at the very bottom of the bore, where sand and silt collect.
• Starter and cable should match the motor; ask for a dry-run protection device so the pump switches off if water runs out.

Electrical work around pumps needs a careful electrician; our guide on finding reliable electricians in Coimbatore explains what to check. For the pipe lines from the tank into the house, see how to choose a plumber in Coimbatore.

Water Quality

Borewell water in many parts of Coimbatore is hard, and in some areas it can carry high salts or fluoride. Before using it for drinking, get a sample tested at a recognised water testing laboratory. Hard water scales taps and heaters; a softener or RO system may be needed depending on the report. Our guide on choosing a water purifier service centre covers the purifier side.

Safety: Cap Every Unused Borewell

Children falling into open borewells is a tragedy that has happened again and again in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in India. Courts and governments have repeatedly directed that borewells under drilling and failed or unused borewells must be securely covered. Do not leave a bore open even for a day:

• Cap a working borewell with a welded or bolted steel cap, not a stone or a sack.
• Fill a failed borewell from the bottom up with clay, sand and stones, and seal the top.
• Remove the pit dug around the bore during drilling, or fence it.

Recharge to Protect Your Water

Coimbatore depends heavily on the monsoons, and many bores lose yield after dry years. You can help your own borewell:

• Lead roof rainwater through a simple filter into a recharge pit or recharge well near the borewell.
• Do not let surface run-off with oil, soap or sewage into the recharge pit.
• Keep a record of the water level and pump running time every few months; a steady fall is an early warning.

Next Steps

Ask your neighbours about their borewells, check the rules with your local body, and get written quotes from two contractors with the rate per foot, casing, maximum depth and dry-bore terms spelled out. Be present on drilling day, and cap the bore securely the same day. You can find borewell contractors listed in the Kovai Yellow Pages directory.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Similar Posts : How to Choose a Gym in Coimbatore, Bathroom Fittings and Sanitaryware Buying Guide for Coimbatore, Pest Control Services in Coimbatore Guide, Buying a New Two Wheeler in Coimbatore Checklist, Renting a House in Coimbatore Tenant Checklist,

See Also:borewell coimbatore kovai groundwater construction hiring guide