"We had George come to our place this morning to fix the retic - he was efficient and explained any faults he fixed helping us to understand. He was friendly and polite leaving the experience to be nothing less than seamless. Thanks so much George!"
Bore Cleaning in Perth
Flow dropped off, pressure gone, or rusty water and staining? We clear iron bacteria, sediment and air-lock and re-develop your bore so it pumps freely again – no new bore needed.
Bore not pumping? Call (08) 6263 4644 now
What is bore cleaning?
Restore your bore’s flow – without drilling a new one.
Over time, every bore slows down. Iron bacteria, mineral scale, sand and sediment build up on the bore screen, the pump and the gravel around the casing, steadily choking off the water your reticulation depends on. Bore cleaning clears that build-up and re-develops the bore so water flows freely again.
It’s the part of bore care most Perth homeowners never think about until pressure drops – and it’s often the difference between a “tired” bore and one that pumps like new. Cleaning is almost always far cheaper than living with weak watering or letting a bore clog up completely.
As a Waterwise-endorsed business with 230 Google reviews at 4.7★, Perth Reticulation Experts diagnose the real cause and treat it properly – so you’re not paying for the wrong fix.
Signs your bore needs cleaning
- Dropping water pressure or flow at the sprinklers
- Zones that no longer reach as far as they used to
- The pump cycling on and off, or running hot
- Dirty, rusty or discoloured water
- A rotten-egg (sulphur) smell from the bore
- Orange iron staining on paths, paving and fences
Any one of these is worth a look. A bore investigation confirms whether the answer is cleaning, a repair or a pump replacement – so you fix the actual problem, not a symptom.
The two big bore-cleaning jobs in Perth
Iron bacteria treatment
Iron bacteria are naturally occurring organisms that thrive in Perth’s iron-rich groundwater. They feed on dissolved iron and form a slimy, rust-coloured build-up that clogs the bore screen, coats the pump and works its way through your reticulation.
The result is falling flow, that rotten-egg smell, and the tell-tale orange staining on paths and fences. Treating the bore knocks back the bacteria and clears the build-up, restoring flow and cutting the staining at its source.
Air developing
Air developing uses compressed air to surge and flush the bore, lifting out the sand, sediment and build-up that has packed around the screen and the gravel surrounding the casing.
Re-developing the bore this way opens up the pathways water uses to move into the casing, so the bore can deliver the flow it was built to. It’s often the step that brings a slow, struggling bore back to life.
Get the flow back – the waterwise way
Experienced Technicians | Fully Insured | Waterwise Solutions
How we clean & rehabilitate a bore
We start with a bore investigation: the pump comes out, the bore is assessed, and we identify what’s actually restricting it. Depending on what we find, we treat the iron bacteria, air- develop the bore to flush out sediment, clean the pump and screen, and re-test the flow once it’s all back together.
If the investigation shows the pump itself is worn rather than just clogged, we’ll tell you straight – and the options run through to repairs and servicing or a full pump replacement.
Investigation & cleaning fees
A full bore investigation is $300 inc GST– onsite assessment, testing, a written report and a quote for the cleaning or treatment required.
For bore cleaning, treatment and servicing work, we have a minimum charge of $200, then $50 for every additional 15-minutes – plus parts as required. You always get a clear picture of what’s needed before any work goes ahead.
Part of looking after your bore for life
Cleaning keeps an existing bore healthy, but it’s one piece of the picture. We also handle bore pump repairs & servicing, supply and install replacement bore pumps, and look after the reticulation repairs your bore feeds. New to garden bores? Our garden bores & submersible pumps guide walks through how it all works.
Hear From Our Happy Customers...
"We would like to thank you for the excellent job done on the replacement of our retic and the loads of free gardening advice!"
"Prompt service . Great work"
"Excellent service from Gavin, Perth Reticulation. Didn't take Gavin long to trouble shoot, fix and repair my retic. Had other repair companies attend over the last 2 years and do half a job. Highly recommend Perth Reticulation as my issues are finally fixed once and for all."
"5***** To George. Servicing and being ultra thorough explaining the 7 stations that had not worked for months from a different company!! Highly Recommend 😊"
"Great service from the team, George's experience and transparency was greatly appreciated."
Bore Cleaning FAQs
Bore cleaning is the process of clearing out the build-up that restricts your bore over time — iron bacteria, mineral scale, sand and sediment — and re-developing the bore so water flows freely again. It restores the flow and pressure your reticulation needs without having to drill a new bore.
The usual signs are dropping pressure or flow, sprinkler zones that don't reach as far as they used to, the pump cycling or running hot, dirty or rusty water, a rotten-egg smell, or orange iron staining on paths and fences. A bore investigation will confirm whether cleaning, a repair or a pump replacement is what's actually needed.
Iron bacteria are naturally occurring organisms common in Perth groundwater. They feed on dissolved iron and form a slimy, rust-coloured build-up that clogs the bore screen, the pump and your reticulation. Left unchecked it chokes flow, stains hard surfaces orange and can cause that distinctive rotten-egg smell. Treating it restores flow and slows the staining.
Air developing is a bore-cleaning technique where compressed air is used to surge and flush the bore, lifting out the sediment, sand and iron build-up that has clogged the screen and the surrounding gravel. It re-develops the bore so water can move into it freely again, which is often the difference between a 'tired' bore and one that pumps like new.
Often, yes. If your flow has dropped because the bore screen and pump are clogged with iron bacteria or sediment, cleaning and re-developing the bore can restore much of the lost flow. Sometimes low flow points to a worn pump or a falling water table instead — the investigation tells us which, so you don't pay for the wrong fix.
Cleaning and treating the bore reduces the iron and bacteria being pumped through your system, which helps cut the orange staining at the source. Iron is naturally present in a lot of Perth groundwater, so some level may remain, but a clean, well-maintained bore plus correct sprinkler set-up makes a real difference.
It depends on your groundwater and how heavily the bore is used, but many Perth bores benefit from periodic cleaning every few years — and a health check heading into the watering season catches build-up before it costs you pressure. Regular attention is far cheaper than letting a bore clog up completely.
Bore cleaning is quoted after a bore investigation — $300 inc GST — so we treat the actual cause rather than guess. Our technician assesses the bore and pump, reports back, and quotes the cleaning or treatment required. For servicing and treatment work there's a minimum charge of $200, then $50 per additional 15 minutes, plus parts as required.
We clean and rehabilitate bores right across the greater Perth metropolitan area. Call (08) 6263 4644 to book a bore investigation.