Planning a private water borehole
RuralQuotes planning guide · Updated 25 September 2026
A useful first enquiry starts with what you want the supply to do. You do not need to know the drilling depth or have a finished specification.
Start with your water needs
Explain whether the water is for your home, livestock, irrigation or a business. If several uses share one supply, describe them separately. A specialist can help you work through the demand.
Describe the site
Mention the existing supply, the available working space and anything that may limit access. Have any site plans or previous water reports ready for the first discussion.
Ask what the quote includes
Ask the specialist to separate assessment, drilling, pumping, testing, treatment and connection costs. Check what happens if the assessment or drilling does not produce the expected result.
Define success before asking for prices
Write down what a successful supply would provide: the buildings served, peak demand, seasonal uses and how much resilience you need. Separate essential requirements from things that would be helpful. Ask the specialist which assumptions need investigation and what information the assessment will produce before the next decision.
Use a staged quotation
Ask whether feasibility, drilling and system installation can be described as distinct stages. For each stage, establish the deliverable, payment point and circumstances that could change the price. Ask what happens if the results are unsuitable: which costs would still be payable and what options would remain.
Keep a handover checklist
Before work starts, agree the records you will receive: installation details, equipment information, testing results, commissioning records and maintenance instructions as appropriate. Identify who provides ongoing support. Ask how any permissions, access arrangements or shared-supply responsibilities will be recorded.