Boreholes

Where no other source of water is available a borehole may be the only alternative means of obtaining water for poor farmers to irrigate their crops. See links below for two typical examples of boreholes installed by Dams for Africa.

The company's preferred approach is to start with a hydrological investigation (see link below) to minimise the possibility of a dry hole and find the strongest possible water. This is followed by the drilling of the hole and installation of steel pipes to prevent collapsing, the installation of an anti-theft chamber (funds permitting) over the hole, the installation of the submersible pump and electrical controls, and the connecting of the pipes. Finally the system is tested and a maintenance manual issued.

Roossenekal, Mpumalanga, South Africa - Client : Bethal Farmers Association / Eskom Development Foundation - Project management : Dams for Africa, August 2003

(1) To prevent the holes from collapsing after the drilling operation, steel pipes are inserted in the hole to a level where solid rock is encountered.

(2) The submersible pump is lowered into the hole
after installing an anti-theft chamber and trimming the
steel pipe to the correct level.