Borehole Drilling in Western Cape

Geology and what to expect

The Cape Flats Aquifer is shallow and sandy, with groundwater levels typically about 1 to 3 m below ground across much of the Flats. Table Mountain Group sandstone aquifers occur in the mountains, where the British Geological Survey says groundwater is often more than 100 m deep. We have not sourced the geology of the Winelands, the West Coast or the Garden Route, so ask your driller what the survey shows.

These are regional pictures. Depths and yields vary widely within a suburb, only a site survey and the driller's log can tell you what your plot will give, and a borehole can be dry.

Borehole drilling prices in Western Cape

One online price guide gives R380 to R750 per metre and R50,000 to R140,000 for a typical project, with typical depths of 30 to 120 m.

The price guide lists Cape Town only. Another guide gives R80,000 to R140,000 for the Southern Suburbs and R45,000 to R95,000 for a typical 48 m Winelands borehole.

Prices come from published price guides, not from quotes. The main guide does not say whether its per-metre rates include casing, VAT or mobilisation, and a fully equipped system (pump, tank and installation) costs more than a drilled and cased hole. Ask for written quotes that say what is included.

National pricing guide · Cost calculator

Water quality and SANS 241 priorities

On the Cape Flats a shallow table makes microbiology and nitrate the first tests. Table Mountain Group water is typically acidic with low dissolved solids, so test pH, and ask the lab to include iron and manganese. We found no source on coastal salinity in the Western Cape.

• E. coli: not detected in 100 mL (acute health)
• Nitrate: 11 mg/L as N or less (acute health)
• pH: 5 to 9.7 (operational)
• Iron: 0.3 mg/L (aesthetic) and 2 mg/L (chronic health)
• Manganese: 0.1 mg/L (aesthetic) and 0.4 mg/L (chronic health)

Whatever the province, the baseline checks are E. coli, nitrate, pH and total dissolved solids. Only a lab test tells you what your water holds.

Water quality guide · Is borehole water safe to drink?