Geoss

World Environment Day.
Honestly, sometimes these international days can feel a bit distant.

So today we're just planting a seed.

Water. You literally cannot live without it - three days, that's all. And yet most of us rarely stop to think about where it actually comes from.

If you have a borehole, you're tapping into a hidden aquifer. Do you know how much it can safely give you? Do you know where the line is between sustainable use and pumping it dry?

Just a question worth sitting with today. 💧

We're here if you want to explore it further.

www.geoss.co.za | [email protected]

Meet Hydrologist, 𝐊𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐬, in the field conducting groundwater compliance monitoring and baseline water quality assessments at a proposed mineral mining operation.

The work includes monitoring borehole water levels, abstraction rates and groundwater quality to better understand site conditions and support responsible environmental management.

Assessments include analysing naturally occurring radioactive isotopes associated with local geology, together with macro and micro chemistry analyses to determine whether current or historical activities may be influencing surrounding groundwater conditions.

The monitoring programme also helps assess whether groundwater abstraction is impacting the local water table, supporting sustainable groundwater management and long term environmental stewardship.

What are some common causes of borehole failure?

Many boreholes fail prematurely due to poor planning, incorrect siting, or inadequate construction.

A well-designed borehole should operate efficiently for many years but success depends on proper investigation, design, and testing.
Understanding geology and groundwater behaviour is critical before drilling begins.

Preventing failure starts with proper planning.

If you are considering drilling or upgrading a borehole, early hydrogeological insight can significantly improve long term performance.

www.geoss.co.za | [email protected]

Autumn in the Winelands 🍂

Recent rainfall across the Western Cape is already starting to reflect in some of the groundwater level data we’re seeing - an encouraging shift beneath the vines.

📷 Dale Barrow

Groundwater supply is often thought of as a single intervention: drilling a borehole and securing water.

It’s a far more considered, multi-phase process that determines whether a resource is sustainable, compliant, and fit for long-term use.

We’ve unpacked the full groundwater supply project lifecycle, unpacking what is required at each stage:

It begins with 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - understanding the geology, assessing aquifer yield potential, conducting geophysical surveys, and identifying the most suitable borehole locations and construction design.

From there, 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 translates planning into reality, with managing drilling contractors, supervision of drilling, final depth and construction recommendations and a drill report.

Once drilled, 𝐲𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 determines how much water can be abstracted sustainably, and whether it meets required standards. This includes step tests, constant discharge testing, recovery monitoring, and laboratory analysis.

Beyond the physical work, 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 play a critical role. Water Use Licence Applications (WULAs), compliance with municipal bylaws, and environmental considerations must all be addressed to ensure lawful abstraction.

Long-term success depends on 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, including tracking seasonal fluctuations, neighbouring impacts, and ensuring ongoing compliance through flow and water level monitoring.

To deepen understanding, 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 evaluates long-term sustainability - assessing aquifer behaviour, potential contamination risks, and the impacts of abstraction through advanced data analysis and simulation.

Finally, 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 services support aquifer protection: from contamination assessments and borehole profiling to specialist input for complex or legal cases.

Each phase is interconnected. Skipping steps or underestimating complexity can compromise the entire system.

We work across this full lifecycle, providing the technical depth, regulatory insight, and practical implementation needed to deliver reliable groundwater solutions.

Whether you’re at the early exploration stage or need support with compliance, testing, or long-term management, our team can assist at any point in the cycle.

www.geoss.co.za | [email protected]

𝐈𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤?

Groundwater quality isn’t guaranteed. It’s influenced by geology, surrounding land use, and potential contaminants from agriculture, industry, or ageing infrastructure.

The only way to know? 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐭.

While many people refer to SANS 241, it’s important to understand that this is specifically for drinking water. Water quality analysis should always be fit-for-purpose, depending on how the water is being used, whether for drinking, irrigation, livestock, or industrial processes.

For drinking water, typical analyses (aligned with SANS 241) may include:
- Electrical Conductivity (EC)
- Nitrates and Nitrites
- Fluoride
- Heavy Metals (e.g. Lead, Arsenic, Mercury)
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Salinity
- Microbiological indicators (e.g. E. coli)

While bacteria often get the most attention, chemical quality is just as important.

If your borehole is used for drinking water, regular (at least annual) testing is essential.

If results fall outside safe limits, there’s no need to panic. Treatment options such as filtration, reverse osmosis, UV, or chlorination can be applied, depending on the specific issue.

If you’re unsure about your water quality, it’s worth getting clarity.

𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫? Contact GEOSS today to book a professional water quality assessment.

www.geoss.co.za | [email protected]

PANIC DRILLING CAN BE COSTLY
https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/george-herald/20260409/281767045783992

Dale Barrow, our Director, recently shared key considerations for drilling in a time of scarcity, in an article published by the George Herald.

As more residents turn to groundwater, the risks of rushed decisions are rising. From the dangers of pseudoscience in borehole siting to the hidden costs buried beneath a drilling quote, Dale unpacks why a careful, informed approach matters now more than ever.

Before you commit to drilling, there are a few critical considerations that could save you significant cost and disappointment.

𝐀 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲.

Groundwater development requires regulatory authorisation, sustainable abstraction planning, and long-term monitoring. Without proper management, over-extraction can damage aquifers and reduce long-term supply.

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 proper understanding and certainty about the water’s availability.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬:

- A 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 should be employed to do the drilling.

- 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 is the most accurate and scientific method of siting a borehole.

- 𝐘𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 helps quantify the volume of groundwater available and provides a rate at which groundwater can be sustainably abstracted from an aquifer.

- A 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 includes consideration of proximal users, surface water features, and potential modelling of the proposed abstraction impacts.

- 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 (generally only required for large scale abstraction projects) help you understand the whole groundwater system, as many catchments are already over-allocated.

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐜𝐮𝐭.
For guidance on responsible borehole development or groundwater planning, GEOSS can provide technical support.

www.geoss.co.za | [email protected]