Cost-Saving Construction Concepts: A Construction and Contracting Blog

There's no doubt that drilling a borehole within the residential premises is among the best ways to reduce reliance on the main water supply, thereby reducing water utility bills.

However, the initial cost of sinking/drilling a borehole is often overwhelming for a large number of homeowners. The good news is that there are practical ways to bring down the cost of drilling a residential borehole, three of which are discussed in the article below. One of the best ways to reduce the cost of drilling a borehole is to reduce the required borehole diameter, make the right choice of casing material, and employ the right drilling techniques.

Borehole Diameter

A larger borehole diameter increases the amount of work involved in the drilling process. In a large number of cases, boreholes are drilled to a larger diameter than that which is required for the installation of submersible pumps and/or hand pumps. Homeowners looking to bring down the cost of borehole drilling should consider reducing the (intended) borehole diameter to the minimum diameter required for the installation of the aforementioned appliances.

Choice Of Borehole Casing Material

The casing is often installed above the borehole screen. The screen is used to support the walls of the borehole and to allow water into the borehole. Together, the borehole casing and screen work to protect the entry of loose sand particles and loose particles of gravel into the borehole. The casing also doubles up as housing for submersible pumps installed in the borehole.

Borehole casings are either made of steel or they're made of plastic. Steel casings are often preferred for their greater structural strength. This is explained by the fact that steel is a more rigid material. However, plastic casings are often more affordable. While they may not be as ridged as their steel counterparts, their performance in residential boreholes is commendable.

Choice Of Borehole Drilling Technique(s)

Homeowners can also bring down the cost of drilling a borehole by insisting on the use of advanced drilling techniques that are cost effective.

For example, case boring is often a more cost-effective method for casing installation as compared to conventional installation techniques. This is because case boring reduces the need for surface excavation, thereby minimizing the extent of site disturbance. Thus, restoring the site to its original state after installation won't be such a labour-intensive exercise. Reduced labour intensity easily translates to a more cost-effective borehole drilling exercise.

Don't break the bank. Adopt at least one of the strategies discussed above.