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Is it ok to drink water from a bore hole without filtration, or should I be considering one of those water filtration systems? Im still trying to find how I can test the water either way, but thought I would ask this first as I keep hearing conflicting advice.
Your local camara can advise where you can get a sample of your water tested.
My borehole water tested fine so it's the only water we use (we're not on mains water).
The issue I have with bore hole water is that I have a friend near Coimbra who has one. Three years ago, the water tested fine. Last year, it failed the test. This year, it is apparently good again, but not quite as good as three years ago. These tests were done annually. However, for me, the problem is that without some type of continuous testing system in place, how do you know that the quality of the water has not changed between the last analysis and the time you consume it?
I just stayed near Figueira da Foz for 6 weeks when I got back from Thailand. The property I rented had a well (not a bore hole) and the water was safe to drink. With that said, it was the hardest water I ever saw. Despite passing the water safety test, without filtration, you could boil a kettle of water and be left with something resembling chewing gum on the base. Even after filtration (reverse osmosis system) it was still hard water and did not taste fantastic.
I don't have a well or a bore hole on my current property. I was told it would cost about Euro 170K to make one given the elevation I am at. Even if I did have one, I would use it for the garden and for showering etc in a heartbeat, but I would not drink it unless I could get it tested a lot more frequently than once a year.
@ack Thanks for responding, and your thoughts and concerns make perfect sense which is why I am on the edge of buying a water filtrations system (reverse osmosis), but as that is a huge investment with ongoing filter costs I am doing my homework first. I think I read someplace that the purity of the water is also affected by the depth of the bore hole. When we bought our property we were told it was 60-70m down, but as we are quite high up (on a hill) even that I dont know if it means anything?!...
We have a bore hole which we use for all our water needs. It is tested every year at the local medical clinic where the doctor sends us for blood tests etc. The test report always reveals that it is safe to drink, but is very acid. The acidity means that brass pipe connections need keeping an eye on as they are subject to corrosion.
There is a small amount of sand that gets picked up by the pump. I have filters to catch the sand particles before they get into the pipe system. Without the filters the shower head and household taps (those that have a gauze aerator on the spout) block up. The sand also blocks the garden drip irrigation and timer valves.
the simplest answer is just to buy 5 litre containers of water for drinking and cooking (although i cannot see any problem with boiling the water for cooking) There is no need to start filtering water for washing- garden etc
@martin Hi, we have an abundance of water from a bore hole and equally don’t want to keep buying water or propogate the purchase of plastics. This is all about drinking the water as regardless of the outcome of to drink/filter etc we will continue to use for everything else.
@genki take care about wasting water...in algarve I have had 5 boreholes..two ran dry - one went saline and two survived..ie 60% failure rate. Nothing as sickening as when your borehole goes wrong or runs dry
@martin It depends what type of water you are dealing with. If the water is hard or contains particles, you do not want that being used in boilers, washing machines, dishwashers etc. It will start to get expensive within a couple of years if you do. My friend in Figueir da foz (horrible hard water) has gone through more water heaters than I can remember. He still refuses to filter. Not wise.
i think you will find the same with tap water...if you want to be wise then get a water softener but dont waste your time or money making pure drinking water for washing/toilets etc
@martin I'm on mains supply in an area with very soft water. It was one of my main targets not to live in an area with drought or hard water under any circumstances. I would have a dual system with a bore hole for the garden etc if I could. However, I am up in the hills and was told that they would need to drill down 1300M. I would have to live for another 300 years or so to recoup the costs involved in water bill savings. I'm not that much of an optimist.
