Rural and domestic water bore drilling

Farmers, owners of lifestyle blocks and rural homes, developers, and small commercial sites with no reliable mains water.

Usually a rate per metre drilled plus charges for casing, development, mobilisation and testing. Some clients pay a fixed quote for a bore to a target depth or flow.

• Mechanical aptitude for heavy equipment
• Reading local geology and groundwater information
• Safe working with rigs and in remote locations
• Quoting, scheduling and customer service

• Driller licensing and bore construction rules differ by state and territory, so check with your state's water authority
• Permits or approvals to drill, and rules on groundwater use, may apply, so check before you quote
• Public liability, plant and equipment, and workers compensation insurance once you hire
• No guarantee of finding water or the flow the client wants, so agree what you are promising in writing
• Heavy, hazardous work with high equipment costs and breakdown risk

Startup costs are typically around $90,000 to $350,000, depending on the rig you buy, its condition and how you set up your crew and support equipment. These are estimates, so get quotes and check for breakdown risk.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on how many jobs you complete and the size of the bores. This is an estimate, and results are not guaranteed, since finding water or the flow a client wants is not certain.

Driller licensing and bore construction rules differ by state and territory, so check with your state's water authority. Also check whether permits or approvals to drill, and groundwater use rules, apply before you quote.