Borehole Drilling Johannesburg

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What is the borehole for?

Home
Complex or office
Other

Borehole drilling prices in Johannesburg

Item	Ballpark installed (2026)
Drilling only, per metre	R350 – R650
Hard granite ground, per metre	R1 000 – R1 500
Casing, per metre	R400 – R700
Submersible pump supplied	R8 000 – R30 000
Water survey, basic to full	R1 500 – R10 000
Typical 80 m home system	From ±R89 540
Complete domestic system	R55 000 – R130 000

Get an accurate quote. Rock hardness, extra casing depth, consent fees, water tests and travel cost extra. Ask whether VAT is in the price.

Benodig jy 'n boorgat-installasie in Johannesburg? Kry tot 5 gratis kwotasies van plaaslike boorgat-boormaatskappye met 5-ster-resensies.

What pushes the price up in Johannesburg

Hard granite ground, priced up to R1 000 – R1 500 per metre
Hydrogeological study and City consent paperwork before drilling starts
Water treatment if the lab test shows mine-related contamination

Types of borehole drilling in Johannesburg

Type	Best for	Keep in mind
Air percussion (DTH) rig	Hard granite and quartzite ground	Loose upper layers still need casing
Auger drilling	Soft or weathered ground only	Cannot cope with hard rock
Reverse circulation (RC) rig	Deep, high-yield commercial holes	Large rigs cost more, need access
Home borehole system	Garden, household and small-office supply	City consent needed before the rig arrives
Complex or office borehole	Shared supply with a bigger pump	Use above household level needs DWS registration

Borehole drilling materials compared

Material	Strengths	Watch out for
Steel casing	Strong top section, stops collapse	Costs R600 – R700 per metre
uPVC casing	Light, corrosion-resistant, R400 – R550 per metre	Usually used below the steel section
Submersible pump	Suits deep holes, R8 000 – R30 000	Must match tested yield and depth
Storage tank	Buffers low-yield granite boreholes	Tank costs R2 000 – R15 000

Dolomite ground

The City does not approve borehole applications on dolomitic land.
Sinkhole risk is the reason these sites are refused.
Ask your driller to confirm your stand's dolomite status first.
Do not pay a deposit until consent is in hand.

Hard granite and quartzite

Hard rock is usually drilled with an air-hammer percussion rig.
Granite ground can cost R1 000 – R1 500 per metre.
Yields in granite are often low, so ask for a yield test.
Ask how the driller will site the hole, for example with a resistivity survey.

Mine-affected water

Past gold mining has left metals and acidity in parts of the groundwater.
Ask for an accredited lab panel that includes metals, not only bacteria.
Use the water for drinking only after the lab report clears it.
Test results decide pump materials and any treatment system you need.

Approval in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is in Gauteng, and the City requires written consent before drilling.
You must also give the City 14 days' written notice first.
National Schedule 1 household use needs no registration, but the City still requires consent.

Borehole drilling services in Johannesburg

Service	What to ask for
Home borehole drilling	Rate per metre and agreed maximum depth
Borehole siting survey	Resistivity or EM survey with a written report
Hydrogeological study	Report signed by a registered hydrogeologist
City consent application	Who files it and who pays the fee
Pump and tank installation	We choose the pump to suit the yield we tested
Water quality testing	Metals and bacteria panel from an accredited lab

Practical borehole drilling tips

Give the City 14 days' written notice before the rig arrives.
The City aims to decide within 28 days, though delays are common.
Johannesburg holes often run 40–120 m, so ask which depth the quote assumes.
The consent application fee was about R1 185 in 2025; confirm the current amount.
Cover the hole and put up a borehole sign on your property.
Never join borehole pipes to the City water line.

What to send with your request

Your street address
Photos of rig access route
Dolomite status of your stand
Household, garden or office use
Known pipes, cables or septic positions

You pick the quote you want. Installers on leaderr are independent firms, and our matching is free.

Frequently asked questions

Johannesburg borehole prices: what should I expect to pay?

Drilling alone runs R350 – R650 per metre, and a complete home system R55 000 – R130 000. Hard granite ground can push the per-metre rate much higher.

Do I need City of Johannesburg consent before drilling?

Yes. The City requires written consent and 14 days' written notice, and may ask for a hydrogeological study.

What borehole setup suits a home, complex or office here?

Homes usually need one pump and a storage tank. Complexes and offices should ask for a hydrogeological study and metered use, as bigger volumes may need DWS registration.

My stand is on dolomite. Can I still get a borehole?

The City does not approve borehole applications on dolomitic land. Ask your driller to confirm the status of your stand before you commit.

Can old mine pollution affect my Johannesburg borehole water?

Groundwater in parts of the city can carry mine-related metals and minerals. Get an accredited lab test before anyone drinks it.

Wat kos dit om 'n boorgat in Johannesburg te laat boor?

Boorwerk alleen kos ±R350 tot ±R650 per meter, en 'n volledige huisstelsel ±R55 000 tot ±R130 000. Vra tot 5 kwotasies en kyk of BTW ingesluit is.

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