Drilling, casing, pump and power against the municipal water it replaces, with the dry-hole risk and the paperwork your city asks for.
In 2026, drillers quote about R290 to R440 a metre, plus a setup fee of around R7 000, casing through the soft ground at about R350 a metre, and a pump with controls and installation from R9 000 to R28 000. A complete 60 m borehole in Gauteng usually lands between R50 000 and R100 000. A wellpoint in sandy coastal ground is far cheaper, at roughly R12 000 to R25 000.
You still pay for the drilling. Nobody can promise water before drilling: a hydrogeological siting survey improves the odds, and asking neighbours with boreholes how deep they went and what they get is the cheapest survey there is. The results page shows what a dry hole would cost you.
In Cape Town, apply to the City at least 14 days before sinking a borehole or wellpoint, register it afterwards, and display the sign the City sends you. In Johannesburg, the City requires written consent before drilling and 14 days’ notice, and does not approve boreholes in dolomitic areas. Domestic use of groundwater is generally a permitted use under the National Water Act, so no national licence is needed.
Not in Cape Town: the 09:00 to 18:00 rule applies to borehole and well-point water too. Elsewhere, check the restriction notice: most speak of watering gardens, whatever the source.
For toilets and laundry, yes, with a backflow preventer between the borehole system and the municipal supply, which Johannesburg Water requires. For drinking, only after a water test and, usually, treatment.