Is Your Borehole Pumping Sand or Brown Water? Here is the Solution
If your borehole water is sandy, brown, or smells of iron, do not panic. Learn the common causes of borehole contamination and how to fix them.
Nothing is more frustrating than turning on your tap and seeing muddy, sandy, or rust-colored water pouring out. This is a highly searched problem across Nigeria, and it usually points to a structural failure in the borehole itself.
Why is my borehole pumping sand?
If you are seeing sand, it means the filter screens or the casing at the bottom of your well have failed. When inexperienced drillers use cheap, thin PVC pipes instead of high-pressure casing, the earth crushes the pipe. Another common reason is a lack of 'gravel packing'—a crucial step where special stones are poured around the casing to filter out sand.
Solution: Stop pumping immediately to prevent the sand from destroying your submersible pump's motor. Call Achievers Geotechnical Services to inspect the well. We can often perform a 'borehole flush' or install a new inner casing to save the well.
Why does my water look brown or smell like metal?
Brown or orange water that smells like metal is usually caused by high iron content in the natural rock formation. It can also be caused by using cheap steel drop-pipes that have rusted underground.
Solution: If the source is natural iron in the aquifer, we can install a professional water treatment and filtration cylinder between your borehole and your overhead tank to strip the iron and odor out completely.