Water-shedding isn’t just a worst-case scenario anymore… it’s a reality for many South African households. Whether it’s scheduled outages, municipal shortages, or long-term drought conditions, the country’s water security is under increasing pressure. It makes total sense that increasingly more homeowners are turning to boreholes and water storage solutions, like water tanks, to supplement their municipal supply and stay in control. 

While these solutions can be smart and even cost-saving in the long run, they come with legal, practical, and financial considerations. Installing a borehole or tank isn’t as simple as drilling a hole or setting up a container. It needs proper planning to avoid mistakes, wasted money, or water that isn’t safe to use. 

If you want to boost your home’s water resilience, then here’s what to check before you dig or install. 

You May Need Permission First 

Depending on where you live and the type of system you want to install, you may need approval from your local municipality. In sectional title or estate environments, you will most likely need permission from the body corporate or homeowners’ association. You might even need the official go-ahead from the Department of Water and Sanitation.  

Generally, it isn’t required to go so far up the governmental food chain for water tanks, but it does tend to ring true for boreholes. The reason for this is because this solution taps into groundwater reserves, and these are considered a national resource. 

Let’s say that approval isn’t legally required in your area, what then? We would still argue that it’s a good idea to notify your municipality. You see, some metros are starting to keep records of borehole locations for future planning and water conservation purposes.  

Boreholes Aren’t One-Size-Fits All 

When the water is off so often, it’s easy to jump the gun out of sheer frustration and start pouring money into a solution. That said, before you invest in a borehole, make sure that you assess your property’s geological conditions. This requires a professional geohydrological survey to determine whether there’s accessible groundwater below your plot, as well as how deep you’ll need to drill to reach it.  

This survey will tell you if the water table is too deep to make the cost worthwhile or if there’s a risk of contamination or mineral-heavy water that isn’t suitable for domestic use without advanced filtration. 

Drilling Isn’t The Only Cost 

Drilling the hole is just the start, and while you might have shuddered at the price of digging a hole, that’s nothing compared to all the extras. For boreholes, you’ll also need to purchase a pump system, filtration, and possibly a storage tank. You might be thinking water tanks would be cheaper, and they can be, but you’ll still need a level base that’s typically constructed out of concrete, gutters and downpipes to collect rainwater, and piping to connect the tank to your home or garden. 

It’s also important to factor in the ongoing maintenance costs. Those pumps will need servicing, filters need replacing, and your water tanks should be cleaned regularly to prevent algae or sediment build-up.  

All in all, these costs can add up, so take some time to budget beyond the initial installation. 

Think About Water Quality 

Contrary to popular opinion, rainwater is not drinkable straight away. The same applies to borehole water. Rainwater that’s been collected from a roof may contain bird droppings, dust, or leaves, while groundwater can contain bacteria, nitrates, or heavy metals depending on the surrounding land use. 

In either case, if your goal is to use the water for drinking, cooking, or bathing, you will absolutely need to install a proper filtration system. Typically, this means investing in UV filters, carbon filters, and even reverse osmosis systems in order to make your water safe for household use. 

Of course, if you’re only using the water for gardening, pool top-ups, or toilet flushing, a basic filtration system should be sufficient. 

Feeling Informed? 

In South Africa, utility reliability is uncertain so investing in your own water supply is a wise decision. Not only does it make your day-to-day life better, but as a homeowner, a professionally installed borehole or water tank can increase property value. 

Just make sure that you use reputable, certified installers who can provide the necessary compliance certificates as buyers will most likely want to see that the system is safe, legal, and effective. 

We trust that this information will help you as you navigate the future. If you’re looking for more practical advice, budget-friendly ideas, and planning tools then please take a few minutes to explore AA Inform.