Step-by-Step Breakdown of a Professional Bore Test: Process, Tools, and Compliance

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A professional bore test is a structured evaluation of a groundwater bore’s performance, reliability, and water quality. It involves a series of technical assessments, including flow measurement, aquifer response analysis, and sampling for chemical indicators. For commercial operators, especially in mining, agriculture, and industrial sectors—bore testing ensures regulatory compliance and supports informed decisions on pump sizing and system design.

Professional bore testing follows guidelines established under AS/NZS 5667.11 and is often mandated by bodies such as WaterNSW, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPIE), and local councils. Unlike simple water checks, the process is executed by trained technicians using calibrated instruments and comprehensive data logging methods.

Step 1: Pre-Test Inspection and Borehole Logging

The process begins with a site inspection to record all relevant bore data, construction history, and physical conditions. Technicians measure the static water level—the height of the water column without pumping—and assess bore depth, casing material, screen intervals, and well ID.

Tools used:

  • Dip tapes or level sensors
  • Bore construction logs
  • GPS for location mapping

Establishing a baseline ensures accurate drawdown comparisons and reveals any structural issues that could compromise flow or safety during pumping.

Step 2: Preliminary Flow Assessment

Next, technicians perform a low-rate pumping test to confirm bore viability and establish an initial yield profile. This phase identifies early-stage problems like turbidity, gas bubbles, discolouration, or sediment.

Typical observations:

  • Visual clarity
  • Odour or iron staining
  • Short-term yield under minimal stress

Though brief (often 10–20 minutes), this step helps determine appropriate parameters for the main constant discharge test.

Step 3: Constant Discharge Pumping Test

The constant discharge test is the core of professional bore testing. Water is pumped at a consistent rate over a prolonged period (commonly 4 to 24 hours), while technicians record drawdown at fixed intervals to assess aquifer behaviour.

Data collected:

  • Drawdown vs time
  • Pumping rate (L/min or m³/hr)
  • Flow rate stability
  • Water level response

Equipment used:

  • Electric or diesel pumps
  • Inline electromagnetic or ultrasonic flow meters
  • Data loggers with pressure transducers

This stage reveals the bore’s transmissivity, storage coefficient, and sustainable yield—critical values for long-term water planning.

Step 4: Recovery Phase Monitoring

Once pumping stops, the bore enters the recovery phase, during which water levels return to their static state. Technicians log this recovery curve over time, typically every minute for the first 15 minutes, then at wider intervals.

The slope and speed of the recovery profile indicate aquifer recharge capacity, permeability, and potential issues like borehole clogging or aquifer drawdown stress.

Step 5: Water Quality Sampling and Laboratory Analysis

While hydraulic performance is measured in-field, water quality analysis requires controlled sampling for lab diagnostics. Samples are collected during mid-phase pumping to avoid stagnant or residual effects.

Tested parameters include:

  • pH (acidity)
  • Electrical conductivity (EC)
  • Total dissolved solids (TDS)
  • Turbidity
  • Iron, manganese, calcium
  • Coliform bacteria (where applicable)

Compliance is evaluated against NSW guidelines for potable, agricultural, and environmental use. For example, vineyards may require low sodium and chloride levels, while mining operations assess salinity impacts on equipment and effluent discharge.

Step 6: Data Interpretation and Compliance Reporting

Following testing, all logged data is analysed using hydrogeological models and compared against regional groundwater benchmarks. The goal is to determine whether the bore can reliably meet the demand without compromising aquifer health or exceeding drawdown thresholds.

Final report components:

  • Time-drawdown and recovery graphs
  • Transmissivity calculations
  • Sustainable yield estimates
  • Flow rate confirmation
  • Water chemistry results
  • Equipment and method documentation
  • Meter serial numbers and calibration certificates

The report becomes part of a regulatory submission to WaterNSW, EPA, or industry-specific oversight bodies. It may also support licensing applications, metering validation, or resource security audits.

Optional Procedure: Step-Drawdown Test

For bores located in complex or deep aquifers, or where yield variability is suspected, a step-drawdown test is performed. This involves pumping the bore at increasing discharge rates in staged intervals (e.g., 2 L/s, then 4 L/s, then 6 L/s), each lasting 30–60 minutes.

This diagnostic helps evaluate:

  • Well efficiency
  • Formation loss
  • Linear vs non-linear drawdown response
  • Pump versus aquifer performance

Step tests are often used for mine dewatering bores, multi-zone aquifers, or bores under load-variable irrigation schedules.

Bore Testing Tools and Equipment Used

Term Definition Example Tool
Flow meter Measures volumetric flow in L/min or m³/hr Electromagnetic, paddlewheel
Dip tape Manual device for water level detection Heron Water Tape
Transducer Pressure sensor for digital water level logging Solinst Levelogger Edge
Gate valve Flow control for constant discharge PVC or brass adjustable valve
VSD (Drive) Variable pump controller for fine-rate adjustments ABB or Danfoss motor control

How Professional Bore Testing Supports Design and Compliance

Beyond compliance, bore testing guides practical system design. Accurate flow data prevents over-pumping, protects pump lifespan, and enables energy-efficient system planning. Quality indicators ensure water meets suitability for its intended use, avoiding crop damage, scale formation, or health risks.

Testing also fulfills mandatory reporting for:

  • NSW Non-urban water metering framework\
  • Bore construction and commissioning standards
  • Irrigation licensing assessments
  • Mining water discharge regulation

Final Thoughts

Professional bore testing is a detailed, standardised process critical for managing groundwater resources in commercial and industrial environments. Each phase—from pre-test inspection to compliance reporting—plays an important role in ensuring system integrity, water suitability, and sustainable aquifer use.

Wallace Irrigation’s certified team conducts bore testing with full adherence to NSW standards and industry best practices. With extensive experience across mining, agriculture, and landscape sectors, our bore evaluations support reliable system design, energy efficiency, and regulatory readiness.


 📞 Ready to test your commercial bore professionally? Book your certified bore testing service today with Wallace Irrigation: Contact Us