What is a pumping test?

Simply put, a pumping test is a means of obtaining specific data from ground water systems such as bores or wells.

Specialized pump equipment is installed to pump, vary and monitor the hydraulic performance of the test site.

Data collected will be the flow rate along with the reaction of the aquifer over a specified time frame being before, during and after the completion of the test.

Why should I conduct a test?

A pumping test provides a basis upon which quantitative information on aquifer properties can be obtained and proper educated decisions can be made for equipping and using a bore as the source for a water supply. Wrong decisions using unverified data can lead to the selection of incorrect pumps, less than optimum pumping schedules, failure of the bore to provide the expected pumping rates and in the extreme the complete failure and destruction of the pumping equipment.

Many bore or well owners in the past have chosen not to conduct a test at all – this is a very risky course of action. Expenditure on a bore test is quite often a very cost effective solution that generally makes up only a small proportion of the irrigation system and equipment of the bore itself.

A failure will often occur at a critical time along with expensive repair costs and not conducting a test is generally one of the major causes of the initial failure. Before any decisions are be made securing a reliable water source should always be part of the original irrigation design.

What can we test?

We have a mobile test rig that is used for stock and domestic bores ranging up to 1,600 GPH - generally a 4-6 hour test

For larger flows we have a selection of over 40 models of submersible pumps along with VFD control, certified metering and data loggers that enable testing of larger bores up to 60,000 GPH or 6.5 meg per day with testing periods up to 14 days if required.

All tests come with a 2 page report with data logger files attached as well.