Boreholes Quick Start Guide

Welcome to our Borehole starting guide – our aim is to educate and inform the general public to assist you to make the right choices relating to your own water security.

People to look drilling boreholes for a number of reason, including reducing the monthly cost of water coming from the council, to secure water for their families in times of drought or just to have the freedom to fill pools or water gardens without placing a strain on the scarce dam reserves.

These are all great reasons to install a borehole. So what do you need to watch out for?

Can I drink the borehole water?
Well, maybe. The quality of water in aquifers below the ground are sometimes superior to the quality we find in rivers and dams. Great. But not always – there may be some unwanted elements found in underground water – especially in a country where mining and other factors may influence what makes its way into our underground paradises. The only way to know for sure is to test the water coming out of your borehole. Luckily our friendly borehole specialist will be able to help with this.

Do I need a license from the council?

If your water usage falls into the category of reasonable domestic use in your household then your water use through the borehole does not normally need to be registered. If the water will be used for commercial purposes – such as farming irrigation – you should contact your local municipality for approval.

Which borehole driller do I choose?

Use the SA Borehole Directory to find a service provider. Also check if the company is registered with SA Borehole Directory, the Borehole Water Association of SA and if they work to the SABS standard required for drilling companies.

A good service provider will make available references of satisfied clients that you can contact to make double sure you are selecting the right company.

Do I have the space?

The borehole itself does not take up much space luckily. The one thing to consider is that the equipment needed to drill that beautiful hole to your personal water source is rather large – think really big truck with a crane hanging off it.

This means the drillers will need access to your garden and enough space to get on with the drilling. In extreme cases this may mean pulling down a wall to get in. But for the rest, if your borehole will be close to an entrance or on a new property you are good.

How much does it cost?

Drilling can range based on the depth of the underground aquifers. A majority can be installed for between R30,000 and R40,000. If you’re worried about the price tag chat to your bank about financing the borehole or utilizing your access bond.

Boreholes do add great value to your property so your investment will pay for itself…