Seasonal Bore Care: A Month-by-Month Maintenance Calendar for WA Homeowners

Most homeowners only think about bore maintenance once something's already gone wrong: pressure has dropped, the pump's making a strange noise, or the lawn isn't getting the coverage it used to. By that point, you're troubleshooting a problem rather than preventing one.

A better approach is to build maintenance around WA's seasons rather than waiting for symptoms to show up. The South West has a distinct wet-winter, dry-summer climate, and that cycle affects everything from groundwater levels to how hard your pump works, which means the right maintenance task really does change depending on the time of year.

This guide breaks the year into four seasons, gives you a month-by-month reference table, and flags the warning signs that mean you shouldn't wait for the next scheduled check.

Why Bore Maintenance Should Follow the Seasons, Not the Calendar Year

A bore system doesn't experience a flat, even workload across twelve months. Demand spikes hard over summer, drops off in winter, and the transition periods either side are when small issues are easiest to catch before they become bigger ones.

Treating bore care as a once-a-year, same-time-every-year job misses this. A pump that's fine in April might be under real strain by January. Groundwater that looks steady in spring can behave differently after a long, dry summer. Building your maintenance rhythm around the season, not just the date, gives you a much better chance of catching problems early.

Summer (December to February): Peak Demand Season

Summer is when your bore works hardest, and it's also when small existing issues tend to become noticeable.

• Irrigation demand is at its highest, which means your pump is running longer and more often than at any other time of year

• Watch for early pressure loss, since a pump or bore that's marginal will usually show it first under summer load

• Sand ingress risk increases with heavier, more continuous pumping, particularly in bores with ageing screens

If you notice weaker sprinkler coverage or longer watering times creeping in during summer, it's worth getting it checked rather than assuming it'll settle down. Our earlier guide on bore pump pressure loss, available on the Australind WBC blog, covers the most common causes in more detail.

Autumn (March to May): The Transition Window

As demand starts to ease, autumn is one of the best windows in the year for proactive work.

• Book a professional inspection while the system is still active but under less pressure than summer

• Consider acid treatment or redevelopment if performance dipped over summer, since addressing screen blockage or mineral buildup now means the bore is in better shape heading into the quieter months

• Check pump and electrical components before demand drops off and issues become easier to overlook

Autumn maintenance is essentially about closing out the high-demand season in good shape, rather than carrying a marginal system straight into winter.

Winter (June to August): Lower Demand, Different Risks

Winter brings rain, lower evaporation, and (for most gardens) far less need for irrigation, but that doesn't mean the bore can be ignored completely.

• The winter sprinkler switch-off runs from 1 June to 31 August across Perth, Mandurah and much of the South West, and this restriction applies to bore water as well as scheme water in these areas, so it's worth confirming exactly what applies to your property with Water Corporation or DWER

• A quieter bore is still worth monitoring, since reduced use can make it harder to notice a slow decline in performance

• Winter is a good time to test water quality, particularly if you're considering any drinking-water treatment down the track (see our separate guide on treatment options for bore water, on the Australind WBC blog)

• Keep an eye on tree root activity, since roots seeking moisture can intrude on bore components over time, and quieter months are a good opportunity for a visual check. The Bureau of Meteorology's groundwater information is also a useful resource for understanding how seasonal groundwater levels typically shift over winter

Spring (September to November): Pre-Season Prep

Spring is your last real chance to prepare before summer demand ramps back up.

• Check the full reticulation system, not just the bore and pump, since a fault anywhere in the irrigation network can look like a bore problem

• Confirm the pump is ready for the coming high-use season, especially if it's approaching the upper end of its typical 8 to 15 year lifespan

• Book any redevelopment work early, since spring is a popular time for bookings and getting in ahead of the summer rush means less waiting if an issue is found

The Full Year at a Glance

Month	Season	Priority Task
January	Summer	Monitor for early pressure loss under peak demand
February	Summer	Check for sand ingress or reduced flow after heavy use
March	Autumn	Book a professional inspection
April	Autumn	Consider acid treatment or redevelopment if needed
May	Autumn	Check pump and electrical components before winter
June	Winter	Confirm sprinkler switch-off rules apply to your property
July	Winter	Test water quality while demand is low
August	Winter	Visual check for tree root activity near the bore
September	Spring	Check full reticulation system before summer
October	Spring	Confirm pump condition ahead of peak season
November	Spring	Book any redevelopment work before summer bookings fill up
December	Summer	Re-enter peak season with a system that's already been checked

Signs You Shouldn't Wait for the Next Season

Some issues need attention immediately, regardless of where you are in the calendar.

• Sudden pressure drops, rather than a gradual decline

• Sputtering or inconsistent flow at the tap or sprinkler

• Unusual noise or a noticeable increase in power draw from the pump

• Visible sand or sediment coming through in the water

Any of these can indicate a developing fault that's better addressed straight away than left until the next seasonal check.

How Australind WBC Supports Year-Round Bore Care

Seasonal maintenance works best when it's built around your specific bore, not a generic checklist.

Australind WBC supports this by:

• Offering seasonal inspections timed to WA's demand cycle

• Scheduling acid treatment and redevelopment work during the autumn and spring transition windows, when it has the most impact

• Servicing pumps proactively before peak summer demand, rather than after a failure

You can learn more about our water bore drilling and maintenance services or book an assessment to build a maintenance plan around your property.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a garden bore be serviced in WA?
There's no single fixed schedule for every bore, but a seasonal check (roughly every three months) helps catch issues early, with the autumn and spring transition windows being the best times for anything more involved, like acid treatment.

Does the winter sprinkler switch-off affect bore water too?
In Perth, Mandurah and much of the South West, yes, the switch-off applies to both scheme and bore water. The Be Groundwater Wise garden bore regulation page has more detail on rostering and exemptions, and rules can vary by location, so it's worth confirming with Water Corporation or DWER for your specific property.

What's the best time of year to get a bore inspected?
Autumn and spring are generally the most useful windows, since the system isn't under peak summer load, but any issues found can still be addressed before the next high-demand period.

Can I do any bore maintenance myself?
Simple visual checks (looking for pooling water, unusual noise, or changes in pressure) are reasonable for homeowners to monitor. Anything involving the pump, screen or bore structure itself should be left to a qualified professional.

Final Summary

So, what does a seasonal bore maintenance calendar actually look like?

• Summer: peak demand, watch for early pressure loss and sand ingress

• Autumn: the best window for inspection and any acid treatment or redevelopment

• Winter: lower demand, but still worth monitoring, and note the sprinkler switch-off applies to bore water too

• Spring: prepare the whole system, not just the bore, before summer demand returns

Building your maintenance rhythm around WA's seasons, rather than waiting for a problem to show up, is one of the simplest ways to get the most out of your bore system over the long term.