Testing times for water supplies
South East Water will be drilling deep beneath an East Sussex village later this month to investigate how much water is available for future water supplies.
An observation borehole will be drilled 60 metres (180 feet) into the natural water-bearing sandstone at a site near Church Lane, Etchingham, so the company can monitor any potential impacts of abstracting water on other groundwater levels in the area.
Following drilling, pumps will be lowered to the bottom of the well to monitor water levels and help collect samples so engineers can check the quality of the water.
If the tests are successful, and there is no impact of taking water from deep below ground on other water sources in the area, the borehole could join the 150 others the company owns and operates to help supply drinking water.
The trial borehole is part of a two-year investigation being carried out by South East Water and the Environment Agency to look for additional water supplies between Mayfield and Robertsbridge.
More crucially, the investigation will help both organisations understand any impacts on the water environment that are happening as a result of using underground sources for drinking water supplies.
Trevor Muten, Principal Hydrogeologist for South East Water said: “With an increasing population, changing lifestyles and concerns about climate change, we need to find the most environmentally sustainable and cost effective ways to meet future demand for water.
“This includes investigating potential new resources such as tapping into the sandstone aquifer – which is effectively a water-bearing rock formation - deep below Etchingham village.
“We will monitor the borehole over the coming months so we can determine what effect, if any, that operating the borehole will have on existing groundwater levels and nearby water courses.”
The drilling and testing work on the new borehole will start after the Easter bank holiday weekend and will be completed by May 2008. Specialist noise-protected equipment will be used to carry out the drilling, so the work it is not expected to disturb or disrupt local residents.
The data provided from the investigation will then help South East Water deliver the most environmentally sustainable solution to help protect future water supplies in the area.