KUANTAN: Tube well contractors are in demand during the ongoing dry spell as people are hiring them to provide an alternative source of water supply.
While many contractors now offer professional services with modern tools to drill the wells, a retiree from Sungai Ular near here continues to keep faith in the traditional method of using PVC piping and a water pump to flush out the soil.
Kalil Ab Wahab said it is important to pick the ground with the right soil or else it will be extremely hard to drill through, requiring days to complete the job.
The 64-year-old is among only a few in Pahang who still continue using the traditional method to dig the wells.
He said once the location has been identified, he will bore a hole using a PVC pipe connected to water supply into the ground to help loosen the soil.
"A water pump will be connected to the pipe to constantly flush the dirt to allow the lengthy pipe down through the earth. Once small pieces of rocks start coming out of the hole, the PVC pipe has reached the ground water.
"Usually, I will insert a 6m-long pipe casing into the ground but it depends on the soil condition underground as sometimes there will be debris, tree roots and soft rocks which make the process tricky. It requires a lot of physical strength but if the water pressure is strong then the task is much easier," he said when met in Sungai Soi, here, today.
Kalil, who previously served at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) here, said the PVC pipe will be also modified as a "strainer" to keep the soil particles out and only allow water to seep through the casing.
He said once the piping works are completed, the owner will install an electric pump which will ensure a continues supply of ground water.
"These days people drill tube wells for various reasons including some who experience low water pressure at home, irrigation issues (farms) and for outdoor household purposes. Usually the low (land) areas covered with sand contain a lot of water compared to hilly areas....it depends on the type of soil including clay, gravel and rock.
"If the ground is suitable, I con complete the job in a day but at times especially in hilly areas, it requires about three days. The cost is between RM1,000 and RM1,500 depending on the location," said Kalil, who is assisted by his son-in-law Khairul Mizan Yahya, 38.
He said due to the dry season, there had been calls from potential customers including as far as Raub enquiring about his services but he prefers to take up jobs within the state capital.
Meanwhile, Kalil, who learnt the skills to build the tube wells during his days in charge of the Irrigation Department within Mardi, said getting deep into the ground layer ensures better water flow and quality.
"Water can already be found between 1.2m and 1.8m below the ground surface. In some areas if the water is murky, then the quality will be poor... there is no guarantee on water quality.
"Sometimes when the debris flushed out from the ground contains pebbles and clamshells, then it is safe to say the water underground will be crystal clear. These days, with modern technology and equipment to dig tube wells and bore wells, the job can be done within a few hours," he said.
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