Bore water is groundwater that has been accessed by drilling a bore into underground water storages called aquifers. An aquifer is formed when water from rain and rivers seeps through layers of soil and rock and fills spaces or fractures within layers of sand and fractured rock.
Bore water may be suitable for uses including stock watering, irrigation, flushing toilets and washing clothes or cars. It may even be suitable for showering, food preparation and drinking. However, bore water can become contaminated by natural processes and human activities. Testing by an accredited laboratory is required to confirm the quality of the water, which may require treatment, depending on its intended use.
If your bore water is required for human consumption, you should have it tested at least once a year for chemical content and microbiological contamination. (Please ask for the Winechek Drinking Water Fact Sheet.)
There are two important chemical parameters that should be tested before using bore water – pH and Salinity. Winechek offers a Bore Water testing bundle for $33 (including GST) per sample.
pH
Measurement of pH is one of the most important and frequently used tests in water chemistry. It indicates if the water is alkaline (pH>7), neutral (7) or acid (<7). For irrigation purposes, pH 5.5 to 8.5 is suitable for most plants.
Salinity
Salinity indicates the amount of dissolved salts expressed as mg/L (milligrams per litre). Different plants can tolerate different levels of salinity in water, but can also be influenced by soil type and characteristics.
Bore water that is very acidic can be highly corrosive, whilst if it is highly alkaline (hardness caused by calcium and magnesium salts), crusts may form on bore pipes and fittings. Salinity measuring more than 1000mg/L may cause scaling and corrosion on bore pipes and fittings and leaf burn on plants.
To assist you to collect your water samples, pick up a FREE Easy Test Sampling Pack from your nearest laboratory.
The Easy Test Pack provides:
| Salinity Range (mg/L) | Guide to Usefulness for Irrigation |
| 0-500 mg/L | Generally good for irrigation |
| 500-1500 mg/L | Consider tolerance of plants, soil type, ensure good drainage |
| 1500-6400 mg/L | Not normally suitable for irrigation, only use for very tolerant plants |
| >6400 mg/L | Not suitable for irrigation |
The following table provides an indication of the salinity tolerance of groups of plants:
| Sea water | 35000 - 40000 mg/L |
| Rain/snow | 3 - 60 mg/L |
| Fresh water lake | 20 - 1000 mg/L |
| Fresh underground water | 100 - 1000 mg/L |
| Saline underground water | 1000 - 350000 mg/L |
(Note – The division between fresh and saline water is arbitrarily taken as 1000mg/L)
The following table is a guide to the salt tolerance of various garden plants, growing under average conditions of soil types and drainage:
| 0-700 mg/L | 700 - 1500 mg/L | 1500 3000 mg/L |
| Stone fruits Citrus French Beans Strawberries Avocado Peas Flowering annuals Bulbs Camellia Azalea Begonia Avoid wetting leaves in hot, dry days |
Celery Grapes Apples/pears Cabbage Lettuce Tomato Potato Pumpkin Geranium Roses Bougainvillea Pomegranate Avoid light, frequent watering and wetting leaves during daytime |
Fig Olive Asparagus Beetroot Spinach Rosemary Chrysanthemum Hibiscus Oleander Bamboo Ornamental palms Australian Native species Avoid wetting leaves |
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Download the Bore Water Test Bundle Factsheet
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