Thanks [member=25668]oor wullie[/member] The Geo report is currently under way; it's a desk job report so they do various bits including hydro-geology. It seems to be not only to find where there might be water but also to specify the types of rock the drillers will have to go through, to prevent nasty surprises! We live in a strange geological area, between a volcano and an 'upwelling' (Tinto Hill), on a volcanic ridge but with coal layers nearby and possibly beneath. The geological map looks very confused.
The BGS wanted to know of any other boreholes in the area, but they are the ones who keep those records!
The whole thing is a massive amount to pay but once it's done we will have water to last us out. Our current well is only 20 feet deep (to the top of sediment) and the borehole will be about 60m, so they must reach water at some point, surely.
Now we've made the decision to just go for it, we're sitting back and waiting for the cogs to turn and hopefully our well will not run dry this year before the borehole is drilled.