Do Boreholes on Your Property Need to be Registered?

Apr 28, 2023

Over the last few years, more households have been turning to boreholes as an alternative water source. Increased demands on municipal water, intermittent water supply and, in some areas, no water supply have necessitated the need for residential borehole installations. Having access to borehole water is arguably the most cost-effective method of accessing water for your home and has raised the question as to whether domestic-use boreholes need to be registered. Aqua Boreholes, the professionals in full turnkey borehole solutions, clarifies the legalities surrounding borehole installation, groundwater supply and the advantages of having a borehole installed on your property.

 

Understanding Groundwater Supply

Before delving into the legal aspects of boreholes, it is important to emphasise why there should be reasonable water usage when having a borehole installed. There is a general misconception that tapping into alternative water sources offers access to an unlimited supply of water. South Africa is classified as a semi-arid region with an average rainfall of 464mm per year, which affects the use of aquifers as a water source. Groundwater is mainly replenished when rainfall infiltrates the soil and cracks and fissures in hard rock formations. This is referred to as recharge. Two to four per cent of the annual rainfall accounts for the recharge amount which is why a tapped-in resource should be used sparingly.

 

The Legalities Surrounding Boreholes

The good news is that residential boreholes do not need to be registered. As with the municipal water supply, as long as the usage is within reasonable limits and the intended application is for households, including garden watering, small crop and livestock irrigation, referred to as Schedule 1, your borehole system can be used without approval. Should groundwater requirements extend beyond Schedule 1 use, your borehole needs to be registered through the relevant government channels. When it comes to the legalities of domestic borehole drilling, Aqua Boreholes will ensure that all legal requirements regarding water extraction from groundwater levels are met.

 

A Sustainable Choice

Regardless of whether your borehole is required as a municipal backup system or as part of a sustainable lifestyle choice, from the initial planning and drilling process to installing filtration systems for potable water, Aqua Boreholes will set up your borehole to your specific requirements. Understanding the importance of groundwater extraction comes with the responsibility of ensuring sustainable yields without depleting natural water tables.

Once it has been determined that groundwater is accessible on your property and drilling has commenced, yield tests will be conducted. This test determines the balance between the maximum amount of water that can be pumped through the borehole against the amount that recharges back to the surrounding groundwater source. We ensure that the total abstraction from the borehole is less than the groundwater recharge and that the water level never reaches the position of the main water strike. The reason for this is simple, we want to avoid your borehole drying up.

 

Benefits of Borehole Installations

To maintain a sustainable water supply, it’s important to use it for need and not greed. By over-abstracting aquifers, groundwater supplies will dwindle. If used sparingly, aquifers will produce borehole yields for decades making it an investment that pays for itself.

  1. Long-term cost savings

Although the initial investment may seem substantial, the long-term savings that can be enjoyed from a borehole will be well worth it. As your potable or non-potable water supply is being drawn from a borehole, your monthly water account will be greatly reduced.

  1. Constant water supply

Not having to rely on municipal water is a two-fold advantage. Not only will you be contributing towards lessening the strain on the municipal water demand but you are always assured of a constant supply of water when needed.

  1. Better water quality

Borehole water contains high amounts of healthy minerals and does not need to be treated with the chemicals that are typically used for water purification.

  1. Low maintenance

Proper installation and care of boreholes ensure that the system will last up to 15 years with little maintenance required.

Together with increasing the value of your property, these are but a few of the numerous advantages that boreholes can offer.

 

The Experts in Borehole Solutions

With a 99% success rate of detecting groundwater on properties, choose Aqua Boreholes for your installation. We specialise in borehole drilling, yield testing, pump and tank installations, water filtration systems as well as municipal backup systems. Using the most modern technology at our disposal ensures that our installations provide customers with ample yields. Contact us to find out how our turnkey solutions can enhance your water’s sustainability.

 

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