Bore Pump Installation & Repairs
Pumps, controllers and yearly servicing.
Bore pumps for homes, lifestyle blocks and farms
A good bore gives you water for the house, stock, irrigation or a business. The pump that lifts the water, and the controls that start and stop it, are what make it reliable. Bore pumps are tricky to get right, and controlling them is what we specialise in.
Aqua Works installs, repairs and services bore pumps from Mangawhai to Albany. We fit pumps to new bores, pull and replace failed ones, and set up the controllers, pressure tanks and pipework that go with them.
Bore pump stopped? Call us on 0800 278 296.
From the bore, through treatment, into storage.
Installation, repairs and servicing
A bore pump hangs deep in the bore, out of sight, so it pays to set it up right the first time.
Bore to storage tank first
A bore pump works best doing one job: lifting water out of the bore into a storage tank. A second pump then supplies the house, troughs or irrigation from the tank. The bore pump gets long, steady runs instead of starting every time a tap opens, and you have water in storage if the bore runs low or the power goes off.
Treatment straight out of the bore
If the water needs treating, we treat it straight out of the bore, before it goes into storage, so your tank only holds treated water.
Controllers that switch the pump off
We specialise in bore pump controllers. How a bore pump turns off matters as much as how it turns on, and every bore is different. We set yours up to suit: a float or level sensor in the storage tank, a pressure controller with a pressure tank, or a variable speed drive. Dry-run protection switches the pump off if the bore runs low, so it isn’t damaged.
New bore pumps
We start with the driller’s bore log: how deep the bore is, where the water sits and how much it can give. We size the pump to suit, lower it on new pipe with a stainless steel safety cable, and fit the bore cap, check valves and controller. Surge protection is usually included, and a registered electrician does the wiring.
With our own gear we install pumps down to about 100 metres. For deeper bores, or pumps hung on old galvanised pipe, we bring in specialist lifting equipment.
Water test first
Bore water often needs treatment. On a new bore, we run the pump for 24 hours, then take a comprehensive water test. It shows which minerals are in the water and what’s needed to make it safe to drink, if drinking is what it’s for. See bore water treatment and water testing.
Repairs
Many bore pump faults start at the surface: a pressure tank that has lost its air, a failed capacitor, a faulty pressure switch or controller, or a leak at the bore head. We find the cause and fix what we can on the spot. If the pump down the bore has failed, we pull it and fit a new one.
Yearly servicing
Once a year we check the controller settings, the air in the pressure tank, the flow and the power the pump draws, the check valves and the bore head, and look for leaks and damp electrics.
Every new bore install includes
An onsite visit before we quote.
The bore log and water level checked.
A pump sized to what the bore gives.
New pipe and a stainless safety cable.
Check valves and a sealed bore cap.
A controller with dry-run protection.
Wiring by a registered electrician.
A 24-hour run, then a water test.
A reminder for the yearly service.
A Grundfos bore pump controller beside a switch box for the bore pump and the water pump.
An old pressure switch on a Helensville bore that kept switching on and off, with its wiring open to the weather.
Signs your bore pump needs attention
- The pump switches on and off often.
- The pump runs all the time.
- Low or surging water pressure.
- The pump runs but no water comes, or the tanks don’t fill.
- The breaker keeps tripping.
- Air, sand or dirty water at the tap.
- Water pooling around the bore head.
What usually goes wrong
- A pressure tank that has lost its air.
- A failed capacitor or controller.
- The bore runs low and the pump runs dry.
- Sand, silt or iron clogging the pump.
- Leaking pipes, check valves or bore head fittings.
- Lightning and power surges.
- Damp electrics at the bore head.
Bore pump playing up? Talk to us.
Local Jobs – Local Trust – Local Experts
Recent bore pump jobs
From bore pump jobs around Rodney.
Matakana: the bore pump was running non-stop and the tanks were nearly empty. The pressure tank had lost its air and split, so we fitted a new one.
Dome Valley: a new bore pump for a caravan park. We cleared the bore and set it up with a new controller and pressure tank.
Manly: a shallow bore with its pump at the surface. The old pump had failed, so we fitted a new DAB jet pump.
Bores and the rules
You don’t need a consent to take water from your bore for your household or your animals’ drinking water, as long as it has no adverse effect on the environment. Drilling a new bore does need consent, and your driller usually applies for it.
- Rodney, the Hibiscus Coast and the North Shore: Auckland Council. A new bore needs consent. For other uses, like irrigation, you can take up to 5 cubic metres a day if you tell the council first, except in the Ōmaha high-use aquifer area.
- Mangawhai, Kaiwaka and the rest of Kaipara: Northland Regional Council. A new bore needs consent. For other uses, a property can take up to 10 cubic metres a day from all sources, but not from a coastal aquifer.
- The bore head: keep it sealed and above the ground, with stock and septic systems well away from it.
Not sure what applies to you? Ask your driller or the council, or call us.
Sources: Resource Management Act 1991, section 14; Auckland Council bore permits and Auckland Unitary Plan chapter E7; Regional Plan for Northland, rules C.5.1.1 and C.8.5.3. Read 7 November 2026.
Topping up your rainwater tanks
In a dry summer, especially in a drought, a bore can keep your rainwater tanks topped up. We can set it to do this automatically in the conditions you choose, for example only when the tank drops to a set level. If you drink from those tanks, the bore water is tested, and treated if it needs it, before it goes in. Every site is different, so we visit first to look at your bore, your tanks and what the bore can give. See tank level indicators.
Bore pumps for irrigation
We often connect bore pumps to irrigation for gardens, orchards, lifestyle blocks and farms, with controls that protect the pump and the bore.
Pumps and controllers we use
- DAB 4-inch submersible bore pumps.
- Tesla 3-inch pumps for narrow or low-yield bores.
- DAB Jetcom jet pumps for shallow bores.
- Bianco nXt PRO controllers with dry-run protection.
- Variable speed drives for steady pressure.
- Reflex and Bianco pressure tanks.
We also work on Grundfos, Onga and other pumps already in your bore.
No water from your bore?
Turn the bore pump off at its switch so it can’t run dry, then call us on 0800 278 296.
Emergency? Please call 021 278 7427. Don’t text or email. Calling is the only way to get an emergency call-out. Texts to this number aren’t seen, and we don’t check emails or website messages after hours or at weekends, so they won’t reach us in time.
How it works
Four steps to a bore pump you can rely on.
1
Site visit
We look at the bore, the bore log, your tanks and how you use the water.
2
Plan and quote
The right pump, controller and setup for your bore, with a written quote.
3
Install and test
We fit it, run the bore for 24 hours, then test the water.
4
Yearly service
We remind you when your pump is due for its yearly check.
Your local bore pump team
Aqua Works has looked after water supplies across Rodney and North Auckland since 2000, from our base in Warkworth.
- Bore pumps, controllers and pressure tanks.
- Water testing and bore water treatment.
- Registered electricians for the wiring.
- Members of Master Plumbers, and SiteWise Gold.
- 24/7 emergency call-outs.
Areas we cover
Mangawhai to Albany, including Warkworth, Matakana, Point Wells, Wellsford, Kaipara Flats, Puhoi, Helensville, Kaukapakapa, Makarau, Riverhead, Dairy Flat and Whangaparāoa.
Bore pump FAQs
Do you install and service bore pumps?
Yes. We fit pumps to new bores, pull and replace failed ones, and look after the controllers, pressure tanks and pipework that go with them, from Mangawhai to Albany.
Do you drill bores?
No. We work with local bore drillers. Once your bore is drilled, we size and fit the pump, run the bore for 24 hours and test the water.
Should my bore pump supply the house directly?
We recommend pumping from the bore into a storage tank, then using a second pump to supply the house, troughs or irrigation. The bore pump gets longer, steadier runs, and you have water in storage. Any treatment goes in straight out of the bore, before the storage tank.
Why does my bore pump keep switching on and off?
Usually the pressure tank has lost its air, or there’s a leak somewhere in the system. Controller settings that are too close together can do it too. Frequent starts wear the pump out, so get it checked.
My bore pump is running but no water is coming out. What should I do?
Turn it off so it can’t run dry, then call us. The water level may have dropped below the pump, a check valve may be stuck, the inlet may be blocked, or the pipe up the bore may be broken.
Can a bore pump be repaired?
Often the fault is at the surface: a capacitor, controller, pressure switch, pressure tank or fitting, and we fix those on the spot. If the pump or motor down the bore has failed, it’s usually replaced.
How deep can you install a bore pump?
With our own gear, down to about 100 metres. For deeper bores, or where the pump hangs on old galvanised pipe, we bring in specialist lifting equipment.
What size bore pump do I need?
It depends on your bore: its depth, where the water sits and how much it can give, plus how far and how high the water has to go and the pressure you need. We start from the driller’s bore log.
Is my bore water safe to drink?
You won’t know until it’s tested. On a new bore we run the pump for 24 hours, then take a comprehensive water test. It shows what’s in the water and what treatment it needs to be safe to drink.
Can my bore top up my rainwater tanks?
Yes. We can set a bore pump to top up your rainwater tanks automatically in summer, especially in a drought. If you drink from the tanks, the bore water needs testing, and treating if needed, first. We visit to look at your bore and tanks before we quote.
Do I need consent for my bore?
Drilling a new bore needs consent from Auckland Council or, in Kaipara, Northland Regional Council, and your driller usually applies. Taking water for your household and your animals’ drinking water doesn’t need consent if it has no adverse effect on the environment. Larger takes may.
Don’t just take our word for it…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Following recent flooding we have just had a new Bore Water Pump supplied and fitted by Aqua Works. From our first contact, right through to having a new pump installed, we found the team at Aqua Works totally professional, friendly, knowledgeable and ever so helpful in all facets during the work involved. …”
Robyn Blayney, 2023
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“… Updated filter system installed by Aqua Works one year ago..our bore water is a treat to drink now and general washing much brighter…great service..a top team!👍👍”
Alec Brewis, 2022
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“Rich was great. Not only did he diagnose the pump problem onsite, he also replaced the part that was failing and got our pump up and running smoothly again in 30 minutes. Excellent service.”
Lynne Jamneck, 2026
Related services
Tap a card to find out more.
Bore water treatment
Filters and UV for bore water, designed from your water test.
Water testing
Lab tests for E. coli and more, for tank, bore and town water.
Rural water supply
Tanks, bores and pumps planned as one system.
Water tank installation
Storage tanks sized and installed for your property.
Tank level indicators
See how much water is in your tank from your phone.
Iron and manganese
Orange or black stains from bore water, and how to fix them.
Bore pump playing up?
Call us and we’ll find the cause, fix it, and set it up to last.