Guide · Borehole costWhat a borehole costs in Durban & KZN.

A borehole is really a system: the hole, the lining, the pump and whatever stores and treats the water. Each part has its own cost.

• 1. Drilling depth

  Drilling is priced largely by the metre, so how deep we must go to reach good water is the biggest single factor. The site survey gives a realistic expectation.

• 2. Casing

  How much of the borehole must be lined depends on how deep the loose and weathered ground goes on your site. Casing is charged per metre, and steel to bedrock costs more than uPVC, so sandy coastal ground and deep weathered rock push the price up.

• 3. The pump

  A deeper borehole and a bigger daily demand need a stronger pump. Solar pumps add panels and a controller but have no running cost.

• 4. Storage and pressure

  A JoJo tank, base and booster pump to run the house. Bigger tanks and municipal bypass valves add to the total.

• 5. Water treatment

  If a water test shows sediment, iron or salts, filtration or reverse osmosis is added.

• 6. Site and distance

  How easily the rig can reach the spot, and how far the borehole is from the house and power, affect the time and materials needed.

• 7. Testing

  A yield test to size the pump, and a laboratory water test against SANS 241 if you plan to drink the water.

A price over the phone has to guess at depth, casing and access, and a guess either scares you off or surprises you later. A site survey lets Kelvin quote for your property: where the borehole goes, what it needs, and what it costs. As one client put it: “We got exactly what was promised.”

A borehole is an upfront cost that cuts your municipal water bill for years, especially on properties with big gardens, pools or animals. It also has a value that doesn’t show on a bill: water when the municipal supply is off. Paired with a solar pump it keeps working through power outages as well.

Already have a borehole that isn’t performing? Repairing or deepening it can cost far less than starting again.