Commercial Borehole Drilling supplies water for businesses that cannot afford to stop when the municipal supply does: guest houses, schools, offices, estates, nurseries, car washes, factories and filling stations. The drilling is similar to a household borehole, but the planning around demand, storage, authorisation and maintenance matters more.
- State daily water demand and peak use.
- Say whether the water is for drinking, process, cleaning or irrigation.
- Mention existing storage, standby power and site access.
Describe your business water need once and compare quotes.
Compare Borehole QuotesPlanning Before Drilling
- Demand. Work out litres per day and the peak hour. This sets borehole, pump and storage size.
- Siting. A hydrogeological survey is common before commercial drilling.
- Authorisation. Business use is not Schedule 1 use. It falls under a general authorisation, which may need registration above set volumes, or a water use licence, plus any municipal approval.
- Drinking water. Water served to staff, guests or the public should meet SANS 241, which needs testing and usually treatment.
System Capacity and Continuity
- Size storage to cover a day or more of demand, so the borehole can pump at its safe rate.
- Consider two boreholes, or a borehole plus municipal backup, for critical supply.
- Plan for load-shedding with solar pumping, a generator or enough stored water.
- Fit meters, level controls and dry-run protection, and record abstraction.
Project Steps
- Brief. Demand, use and site constraints are agreed.
- Survey and authorisation. Siting, assessment and applications.
- Drilling. Larger diameter holes for bigger pumps where needed.
- Testing. A long constant-rate yield test and laboratory analysis.
- Equipping and storage. Pump, tanks, treatment and pressure system.
- Handover. Records, maintenance plan and monitoring.
Commercial Borehole Prices
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Drilling only, per metre (most cities) | R300 - R750 |
| Casing, per metre | R400 - R700 |
| Geophysical siting survey | R5,000 - R10,000 |
| Complete domestic-scale borehole, for comparison | R60,000 - R120,000 |
Ballpark figures, not quotations. Ranges compiled from price guides published by South African contractors, suppliers and quote websites, checked October 2026 and rounded where needed. They are not our prices and no contractor is bound by them. Commercial systems with larger pumps, storage and treatment are quoted per project and usually cost more than domestic installations. Confirm whether VAT is included on every quote.
Sources:
- OurPower, borehole drilling cost by city (October 2026)
- Lekker Trade, borehole drilling cost per metre (October 2026)
- Borehole Hub, borehole prices 2026
- Enviroleg, borehole price and drilling price guides (2026)
What Affects Commercial Borehole Drilling Quotes
- Borehole diameter and depth.
- Test length and reporting for authorisation.
- Pump capacity and power supply.
- Storage, treatment and controls.
- Working around trading hours and site safety rules.
Questions to Ask Contractors
- What similar commercial projects have you completed?
- Who handles the water use registration or licence application?
- What yield test will you run, and will the report support an application?
- What maintenance and response times do you offer?
- What insurance and safety documentation can you provide for our site?
Compare commercial contractors through Borehole Installation South Africa.
For the drilling basics, see borehole drilling.
Related Services
Commercial Borehole Drilling FAQs
Does a business borehole need a licence?
Commercial use falls outside Schedule 1. Depending on volume and catchment it may need registration under a general authorisation, or a water use licence. Municipal rules may also apply.
Can we supply guests or staff with borehole water?
Only if it is tested and treated to a safe standard, normally SANS 241 for drinking water, and monitored regularly.
How much storage do we need?
Enough to meet peak demand and cover outages. Many sites plan for at least a day of use.
Can we drill during trading hours?
Usually, with planning. Rigs are noisy and need space, so agree times and safety zones.
Who maintains the system?
Ask for a service plan with set inspection intervals and response times.
Borehole Installation South Africa is a free quote-comparison service. The project is quoted and carried out by independent contractors, and your agreement is with the contractor you appoint. Availability depends on your location and on contractors taking on that kind of job. Before you pay a deposit, get a written quote that lists what is included and excluded, the guarantee terms and the payment terms.
Commercial Borehole Drilling. Compare quotes for business water supply.
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