Borehole Water Survey South Africa

• Borehole Water Survey South Africa: one request, replies from independent groundwater and borehole contractors.
• Tell us once what you need: a water survey, drilling, yield or water testing, pumps, filtration or repairs.
• Contractors who cover your area reply with availability and prices, and you compare them yourself.
• This website does not survey, drill or install.
• The contractor you hire does the work and sets its own terms.

What Contractors Quote For

Not every contractor does every type of work, so describe the job clearly when you request quotes.

How It Works

1. Request. You give your town or suburb, property type, what the water is for and whether there is already a borehole.
2. Match. Your request goes to independent contractors that may cover your area.
3. Quote. Contractors reply with availability and a price, or ask to visit first.
4. Compare. You check the method, depth limits, casing, testing and exclusions side by side.
5. Hire. You hire the contractor you choose, or nobody. There is no obligation.
6. Work. The contractor surveys, drills, tests or installs as quoted.

Only pay a deposit against a written quote.

Survey Methods

• Electrical resistivity. Profiling and depth soundings that show changes in the ground.
• Electromagnetic (EM). Fast conductivity readings along lines to find fractures and weathered zones.
• Magnetic. Finds dykes and other structures that can carry water.
• Desk study. Geological maps and nearby borehole records.

A survey improves the odds of drilling in the right place. It does not guarantee that water will be found, or the yield, depth or quality of any water that is found.

Survey or Hydrogeological Assessment?

• Water survey. Fieldwork that pegs where to drill. Enough for most homes and small farms.
• Hydrogeological assessment. A specialist report on aquifer yield, quality and impact, often for licensing, large users or municipalities.
• Yield test. Measures how much water the borehole can give.
• Water test. Measures whether the water is fit for its use.

A good quote names the method and the deliverables, not just a price.

Borehole Prices at a Glance

Ballpark prices so you can sanity-check a quote. They are not quotes and no contractor is bound by them.

Depth, geology, access, distance and equipment set the final price.

What to Include in Your Request

• Your town or suburb.
• Property type: house, smallholding, farm, business or municipal.
• What the water is for: household, garden, irrigation, livestock or business.
• Whether a borehole already exists, and its depth and yield if known.
• The service you need.
• When you would like the work done.
• Photos, if the form or WhatsApp lets you send them.

Availability

Availability depends on your area, the type of work and the contractor's schedule. Contractors are independent and decide which jobs they take on, so not every request can be matched. Most visit the site before giving a firm price for drilling or larger work.

Regulations

Taking groundwater for reasonable household use is allowed under Schedule 1 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998). Larger use may fall under a General Authorisation, which sets limits per property and requires registration with the Department of Water and Sanitation above set volumes, or may need a water use licence. Some municipalities, such as the City of Cape Town, also require notice before drilling and registration of the borehole. Your contractor or hydrogeologist can tell you what applies to your property.

Comparing Contractors

Whoever you consider, compare like with like:

• Method. Survey instrument, drilling method and test durations.
• Depth and casing. Price per metre, maximum depth and casing type.
• Dry-hole terms. What you pay if no water is found.
• Deliverables. Pegged points, drilling log, test results and reports.
• Track record. Photos of their own work and contactable references.
• Price terms. VAT, travel, deposit and what counts as an extra.

Frequently Asked Questions