Underground Water Survey is fieldwork that finds the best place on your property to drill a borehole. It is also called a groundwater survey, water surveying, groundwater location survey, groundwater detection or borehole siting. They all mean the same job: reading the ground before the drill rig arrives, so you do not pay to drill a dry hole in the wrong spot.
Send your town, property size and what the water is for to get survey quotes.
Get the Best QuoteWhat Does an Underground Water Survey Include?
- Desk study. Geological maps, existing boreholes nearby and any available groundwater records for the area.
- Site walk. Access for a drill rig, distance from septic tanks, buildings, boundaries and services.
- Geophysical readings. Usually electrical resistivity, electromagnetic (EM) or magnetic measurements along lines (traverses) across the property.
- Interpretation. The surveyor looks for features that can hold or carry water, such as fractures, faults, dykes and weathered zones.
- Site marking. One or more recommended drill points pegged and recorded with GPS coordinates.
Who Needs an Underground Water Survey?
- Homeowners and smallholdings planning a first borehole.
- Farms needing water for irrigation or livestock. See Agricultural Water Survey.
- Businesses, estates and schools wanting a backup supply. See Commercial Water Survey.
- Owners of a dry or weak borehole deciding where to drill again.
How the Process Works
- Request. Give your town, property size, intended water use and whether there is an existing borehole.
- Quote. Surveyors reply with a price, travel costs and the method they will use.
- Survey day. Readings are taken across the accessible parts of the property, usually within a day for a residential stand.
- Results. The recommended drill points are marked and explained.
- Next step. You get drilling quotes for the marked point. See Borehole Drilling.
What Affects the Cost?
- Property size and how many survey lines are needed.
- Survey method and equipment.
- Travel distance from the surveyor's base.
- Whether a written report is included or only pegged points.
- Difficult access, dense vegetation or built-up stands with little open ground.
Underground Water Survey Prices
Ballpark prices so you can sanity-check a quote.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Residential water survey, per site | R3,000 - R10,000 |
| Desktop study only | R2,000 - R5,000 |
| On-site geophysical survey, more detailed | R8,000 - R15,000 |
| Comprehensive survey package, several methods | R10,500 - R28,000 |
| Travel, where charged as a lump sum | R500 - R2,000 |
| Survey priced by some drillers as a share of drilling | About 5% of the drilling cost |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Ballpark figures, rounded, taken from rates published by South African borehole businesses and cost guides. They are not our prices or quotes, and no contractor is bound by them. Most sources do not say whether VAT is included, so confirm VAT, travel and exclusions on every quote. Survey fees do not include drilling.
Sources:
- OurPower - borehole cost calculator and drilling cost guide
- Enviroleg - hydrogeological survey prices
- Enviroleg - borehole geophysical survey prices
- Enviroleg - water surveying prices in Cape Town
- BoreholeHub - borehole prices guide
- WaterPointSA - borehole cost guide for Gauteng
- Aquaview Technologies - why do an underground water survey
Get prices for your property rather than a range. Send one request, with no obligation to hire.
Get the Best QuoteWhat You Receive
- Pegged drill points with GPS coordinates.
- An indication of the depth range where water-bearing zones may occur.
- A short report or survey sheet, if included in the quote.
- Notes on rig access and set-back distances.
Limitations
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.
Dowsing or water divining is not a scientific survey method. Ask each surveyor which instrument they use and what the readings show.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is groundwater detection the same as an underground water survey?
Yes. Groundwater detection, groundwater location, water surveying and borehole siting all describe finding a suitable drill point before drilling.
Does a survey guarantee water?
No. A survey improves the chances of drilling in a productive spot. Yield, depth and water quality are only known after drilling and testing.
How long does a survey take?
A residential stand is often done in a few hours. Farms and larger sites can take a day or more.
Can the drilling company do the survey?
Many drilling contractors offer surveys, and some independent surveyors only survey. Either way, ask which method is used and what you receive.
What is the difference between a survey and a hydrogeological assessment?
A survey marks where to drill. A hydrogeological assessment interprets aquifer data, yield and impacts, often for licensing or larger projects.
Related Services
Request underground water survey quotes through Borehole Water Survey South Africa and compare the method, deliverables and travel charges each surveyor includes.
Borehole Water Survey South Africa is a quote-request service. We do not survey, drill, test or install, and we do not employ contractors. Work is quoted and carried out by independent groundwater and borehole businesses, and your contract is with the business you choose. Get a written quotation that sets out the scope, deliverables, exclusions and payment terms before you pay a deposit.
Underground Water Survey. Describe what you need once and get the best quote, fast.
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