We always drill following a full geological survey of your property, which will assist in identifying the location of the best water source on your property, as well as providing an accurate depth at which the water will be attained.
Once a geological survey has been completed, we will have a better understanding of how deep your water source is located. We will always drill your borehole at least 10m deeper than this point, to accommodate a drop in the water table, which may occur during periods of extended drought, when the underground water is not being replenished by rain.
Please note that while it is safe to drill in most areas in Gauteng, it is prohibited to drill boreholes in the following suburbs in the City of Tshwane due to the risk of instability of the dolomite bedrock:
Bronberrick | Claudius | Clubview |
Cornwall Hill | Doornkloof | Eldoraigne |
Erasmia | Hennopspark | Highveld |
Irene | Laudium | Lyttelton |
Lyttelton Hoewes | Monument Park | Pierre van Ryneveld Park |
Rietvallei | Valhalla | Wierdapark |
Zwartkop |
The geological survey will give us a clear indication of the location and availability of water, which is why we will never attempt to drill without first conducting a survey… it would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack with a blindfold on.
A geological survey is a scientific process, it is not guess work or divining sticks, so it is the most accurate way to determine the presence of water on your property. During the survey an exact drill site will be pinpointed, and the depth of the water will be gauged. As long as these steps are followed, there should be a 97% chance of finding water. We will never waste your money or our time by drilling if we don’t have a good certainty that we will be able to access water for you.
On very rare occasions a hole might be dry on the day of drilling, if this is the case, we will leave the site for a minimum of 3 days as we usually find the water will seep into the well during this time.
It is very difficult for traditional big drilling rigs to access most properties due to their size. For this reason the driveway is often the only place they are able to drill.
This can often result in them needing to drill far deeper to access water, as they are not able to reach the ideal point on the property, and have to take the gamble that they will find water where they can reach.
Our newest drilling rig, affectionately known as “The Little Red Rocket” is a VERY compact drilling rig, that needs no more than a 1m wide space for our skillful driver to bring it into your property.
This means that we have the ability to drill in some of the most tricky to access locations, which enables us to drill in the best spot on your property, where you have the greatest chance of hitting a good water supply, as indicated by your geological survey, rather than being restricted by the size of the rig.
This really depends on the depth of your water and the type of rock that needs to be drilled through. We will be able to provide you with a better estimate following your geological survey. On average it will take about 10-15min to drill 1 metre, so most domestic boreholes can be drilled within one day.
We will always drill your borehole deeper than the current water level, to accommodate a drop in the water table, which may occur during periods of extended drought, when the underground water is not being replenished by rain. During these periods, it is best to monitor your usage in the same way that you would when using municipal water.
When most people ask this question, they are not referring to the drilling of the hole alone, they are wanting to know the cost for the full setup… this is not a straight forward or simple answer, as the cost depends on numerous factors.
In terms of Schedule 1 of the National Water Act of 1998 (below) you do not need to register your borehole in Gauteng if the intention is for the water to be used for purposes of “reasonable domestic use, domestic gardening, animal watering, firefighting and recreational use.”
"A person may, subject to this Act, take water for use on land owned or occupied by that person, for
(i) reasonable domestic use;
(ii) small gardening not for commercial purposes;
(iii) the watering of animals (excluding feedlots) which graze on that land within the grazing capacity of that land,
From any water resource which is situated on or forms a boundary of that land if the use is not excessive in relation to the capacity of the water resource and the needs of other users."
It is common courtesy to let your neighbours know that you intend on drilling a borehole on a specific date.
You can advise them that it may be noisy and that we could expect dust, depending on the sand and rock formation on your property.
We ensure to abide by all of the relevant bylaws and residential noise time restrictions, but it is always best to keep your neighbours informed to avoid any unnecessary or unexpected reactions.
