The Borehole Water Association of Southern Africa estimates that the cost of drilling is approximately R 600 per meter (BWA). Following drilling and the discovery of groundwater, an additional expenditure of between R25 000 and R30 000 is required to build a pump, and an additional R 12 000 is required for laboratory water testing. Before you receive an estimate, the BWA suggests asking your neighbors how much it cost them to install their boreholes. This will give you an idea of what it would cost you.
Will it be worth it?
According to real estate agents, boreholes increase the tangible worth of your property by between R 80 000 and R 120 000, especially if they are hooked into your home’s water system and completely eliminate the need for municipal water. If this is the case, you must account for the sporadic maintenance required for the filtration and reticulation system as well as the water analysis required by the BWA to check the quality of the water at least once a year.
What is the recommended borehole depth in South Africa?
Water is often found at a depth of about 300 feet in South Africa, while household-use boreholes typically reach depths of between 100 and 500 feet.
What is the lifespan of a borehole?
With relatively little care required for the first 10 to 15 years, a borehole is an asset that should endure 50 to 80 years.
Do I require authorization to drill a borehole in South Africa?
You are recording groundwater use, not borehole use. It’s vital to note that a person does not need permission to drill a borehole or to register a borehole while discussing licensing and registration of water use.
What is the electricity consumption of a borehole pump?
This depends on the size of the installed submersible pump, but in general, a modest pump for everyday use—for example, an abstraction rate of less than 20 m3/day—will be very inexpensive to run.
How long does it take to drill a borehole?
On-site work can take up to 15 days: drilling takes 3 to 4 days, followed by the installation of cables and pipework, putting the submersible pump in the borehole, testing it, and pumping to clear the supply. After that, water is taken to a lab to check for purity. It will probably take two to three weeks to complete this.
What drawbacks do borehole waters have?
Borehole water has the drawback of not being suitable for all forms of consumption, such as drinking, cooking, and watering edible plants, without first undergoing purification. Because there may be impurities, it is not possible to do this directly from the source.
