Why is my water meter is running backwards?

A borehole, used to water the garden, is also supplying water to the house BUT the municipal water meter is running backwards. No prizes for guessing what’s happening here! The pressure delivered by the borehole pump is higher than the mains supply. This means the borehole water is running back into the municipal supply. This is NOT an acceptable situation and MUST be sorted out ASAP. This is not only illegal, but could be detrimental to the health of everyone in the immediate area. Under no circumstances must borehole water be forced back into the mains system.

What to do to solve the problem

Contact a reliable, suitably qualified contractor and have:

1.     A three-way ball valve fitted after the discharge elbow at the top of the borehole.

2.    A good quality (metal non-return valve nrv) is to be fitted between the mains supply and the three-way valve.

The diagram shows the connections to be made. Depending on the orientation of the three pipes, additional fittings (nipples, tees and/or elbows) will be required.

Saved the best for last …

… and quite frankly, it’s the simplest.

Don’t connect both your borehole and mains directly to the house, rather separate the two systems with an intermediate storage tank and booster system. This still requires a chemical and biological test of the borehole’s water each year.

Submitted by John Tonkin

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FYI: Water Quality testing

If you are making use of borehole water in the home, make sure that the water is tested at least every 12 months. However, you should be guided by the SANAS accredited laboratory that carries out the analysis, as they will be able to offer advice that is specific to your context. It’s for your wellbeing and those around you. The following article published in the Borehole Water Journal Online gives more information about groundwater that is to be used for drinking purposes. Is all groundwater safe enough to drink?