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Borehole drilling in the Free State and Bloemfontein
By BoreholePro. Updated 12 October 2026.
A typical borehole in the Free State is drilled to about 65 m and costs about R43,575 with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, at R330 a metre, the national average of current price lists. Government monitoring boreholes in the Free State put the water at a median 6.9 m below ground, against a national median of 12 m. A site visit confirms the spot, the depth and the final price before any drilling.
- Water below ground (median)
- 6.9 m
- Typical borehole
- 65 m
- Drilling rate
- R330 /m
- Lined and pumping
- R43,575
How much does borehole drilling cost in the Free State?
Here is what a 65 m borehole in the Free State is made of, at the same rates our quote tool uses (checked 12 October 2026).
| What you pay for | Price |
|---|---|
| Drilling, 65 m at R330 a metre | R21,450 |
| Steel casing at the top | R1,500 |
| PVC casing, 65 m | R9,425 |
| Pump for a 65 m hole | R11,200 |
| Borehole, lined and pumping | R43,575 |
Every 10 m deeper or shallower moves the price by about R4,750, plus a bigger or smaller pump. If solid rock starts deep, more steel casing is needed, at about R350 to R750 a metre. Water to the house usually adds a 5,000-litre tank (R6,940), a 3.5 m stand installed (R21,800) and a pressure pump (R2,950). Full price breakdown: borehole drilling prices.
How deep is the water in the Free State?
The government’s monitoring boreholes in the Free State put the water at a median of 6.9 m below ground. The middle half of readings sit between 3.7 m and 12 m, and 91% are within 20 m of the surface. The national median is 12 m. Latest readings run from 2017 to 2026.
Shallow water doesn’t mean a shallow hole. The pump has to sit well below the water level in the driest months, so our quote tool prices an address in Bloemfontein at about 65 m.
For how depth is decided anywhere in the country, see how deep is a borehole.
Is borehole water in the Free State safe to drink?
The government has few recent water tests on record in the Free State, so nobody can tell you from records what is in your water. A lab test once the hole is drilled (R800 to R2,500) is the only way to know. See what a borehole water test checks.
Every borehole is different, even next door. Test before anyone drinks the water: a lab test costs R800 to R2,500, and a filter matched to the result costs R5,000 to R15,000. See borehole water testing.
Why the spot matters in the Free State
Most of the Free State sits on Karoo rocks, mudstone and sandstone that hold little water on their own. The water is usually found along dolerite, the hard dark rock that cuts through them in walls and sheets. A hole on the dolerite contact can give plenty of water; one a few metres away can be dry. That is why a siting survey pays for itself here.
Drilling on Bloemfontein plots and smallholdings
On Bloemfontein’s plots and smallholdings the monitoring boreholes show water fairly close to the surface. Check Mangaung’s by-laws before you drill. Household use needs no licence from the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Towns in the Free State
Borehole drilling in Bloemfontein
Our quote tool prices an address in central Bloemfontein at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 8.8 m below ground (100% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Borehole drilling in Welkom
Our quote tool prices an address in central Welkom at about 70 m and R45,950, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 5 m below ground (80% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Borehole drilling in Bethlehem
Our quote tool prices an address in central Bethlehem at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 2.6 m below ground (100% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Questions people ask
How much does borehole drilling cost in the Free State?
About R43,575 for a 65 m borehole with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, at R330 a metre. A tank, stand and pressure pump to get water to the house add about R31,690. The site visit sets the final price.
How much does a borehole cost in Bloemfontein?
A typical Bloemfontein borehole, about 65 m deep with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, comes to about R43,575 at R330 a metre. Type your address into the quote tool for your own line-by-line price.
Do I need a siting survey in the Free State?
It is strongly worth it. Water in the Free State usually sits along dolerite in the Karoo rocks, so the exact spot decides whether a hole gives water. A survey costs R3,000 to R15,000, less than most dry holes.
Related
Where these numbers come from
- Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS): National Groundwater Archive, GRIP borehole records, groundwater-level monitoring and water-quality results supplied to us by DWS GeoRequests, September and October 2026
- Current price lists from borehole drillers in Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, checked 12 October 2026
- National Water Act 36 of 1998, Schedule 1 (permissible use of water)
Get a price for your borehole in the Free State
Type your address and see the price line by line, with the water records around your plot. A site visit confirms the spot, the depth and the final price before any drilling starts.