Duck pond will never run dry again
The George Sutter Park duck pond now has its own private water supply.
Another event in the history of Springs was marked last Saturday at 10pm, when a new borehole was drilled at the George Sutter Park duck pond.
The underground water force will push out about 225 000 liter per hour.
The Selpark Dam Project team and community were excited at the arrival of the drilling machine last Friday.
According to Gert Parsons, the convener of the project, the curiosity of the public was obvious.
The machine and the working team arrived late and work only began last Saturday.
When the owner of the machine Frans Mostert and his team started the drilling process, it made for an even larger number of spectators.
Springs’ city slickers arrived to watch this spectacular, some experiencing the drilling for the first time.
Elsie Parsons, Gert’s wife, was one of the people who experienced the drilling for the first time.
“It was the most amazing sight, specially when Frans placed small heaps of soil types on the grass.
This is done every meter and to show the public the soil types and rock structures found underground.”
After a couple of meters the colour of the soil changed to yellow, then orange and at 30m the drill bit hit a layer of coal.
Elsie says for 18m every pile of sand was black, but at 19m changed to a grey colour.
Although this is nothing new to Frans, he enjoyed the excitement among the spectators.
Water borehole drilling generally involves drilling to a diameter of 150mm.
Once the depth of 130m was reached the drilling is completed, the tools are removed from the hole, and the borehole is constructed by installing three meter lengths of screen and casing with a diameter of 150mm into the hole.
Then the hole is ready for a pump to be fitted.
Weeks before the drilling started, Daggafontein resident and dowser Willie Human, was invited to locate water next to the pond.
Gert says he uses downing rods which pointed out the exact spot where drilling needs to be done.
“He knows his story, has done this for years and has always been accurate.”
Now that the pond has its own private water supply, the fence needs to be erected before the borehole pump can be installed and the pump house is built to protect it.
Ward councillor Shadow Shabangu claims the metro will supply the fence.
An account has been opened for this project and is controlled by the Anita Greeff, general manager of the Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
She appeals to the public and businesses to contribute to this worthy cause by giving a once-off deposit to HL Brits T/A Selpark Dam Project, Nedbank current account number 10848762221, branch number 19077420.
