Borehole Running Dry? 5 Reasons Your Pump Keeps Stopping

The pressure drops. The flow slows to a trickle. Then, nothing. If your borehole in Gauteng has stopped delivering water, your first thought is probably that the well has run dry for good. In most cases, that is not true. Before you panic about drilling a new hole, let's look at the mechanical and environmental reasons why your pump is failing you.

1. The Water Table Fluctuation (Seasonal Drop)

Gauteng experiences distinct wet and dry seasons. If you are entering the winter months or a period of low rainfall, the natural water table can drop temporarily. If your pump was installed at the very top of the water column, it might now be sitting above the water level. This is called "sucking air." The solution is rarely a new borehole; it is usually lowering the existing pump to a deeper depth.

2. Pump Failure: The Motor or the Controller?

Borehole pumps work hard. They are submerged hundreds of meters down and run constantly to fill tanks. The most common reason for "no water" is not a dry hole, but a burned-out motor or a faulty pressure switch. If you flip the breaker and hear nothing, or if the pump hums but doesn't push water, you are likely dealing with an electrical or mechanical failure rather than a water shortage.

3. Clogged Impellers or Inlet Screens

The underground geology of the Witwatersrand can produce fine sand or "fines." If your borehole was not developed properly after drilling, or if the screen (filter) at the bottom has rusted through, sand enters the pump. This sand acts like sandpaper, wearing down the internal impellers (the fins that push the water up) or completely clogging the intake. The pump runs, but no water comes out because it is just churning sand.

4. Air Lock in the System

Sometimes, after a power outage or maintenance, a pocket of air gets trapped in the suction line or the pump head. This "air lock" prevents water from flowing, even if the borehole is full and the pump is running. This is a quick diagnosis: if the pump is running smoothly but the pressure gauge reads zero, an air lock might be the culprit.

5. The Pressure Tank is Waterlogged

Your pressure tank (the big blue or steel tank next to your pump controls) relies on a pocket of air to push water through your pipes. Over time, this air pocket can be absorbed by the water, leaving the tank "waterlogged." When this happens, the pump will cycle on and off rapidly, and the water pressure at your tap will be a weak sputter. The pump shuts off because it thinks it has reached pressure, but the tank has no air to push the water out.

Don't Drill a New Hole Yet

Drilling a new borehole is expensive and disruptive. In most cases where water stops flowing, the hole itself is fine—it is the equipment above or just below the ground that has failed. A simple electrical test or pressure check can save you tens of thousands of Rands in unnecessary drilling.

Whether you are in Sandton, Midrand, or Centurion, a professional diagnosis is the fastest way to get your water back. Technicians with the right equipment can pull the pump, test the motor, and check the static water level within hours, not days.