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Borehole drilling in KZN and Durban
By BoreholePro. Updated 12 October 2026.
A typical borehole in KwaZulu-Natal 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 KwaZulu-Natal put the water at a median 6.8 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)
- 6.8 m
- Typical borehole
- 65 m
- Drilling rate
- R330 /m
- Lined and pumping
- R43,575
How much does borehole drilling cost in KwaZulu-Natal?
Here is what a 65 m borehole in KwaZulu-Natal 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 KwaZulu-Natal?
The government’s monitoring boreholes in KwaZulu-Natal put the water at a median of 6.8 m below ground. The middle half of readings sit between 3 m and 13 m, and 89% 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 Durban at about 65 m.
For how depth is decided anywhere in the country, see how deep is a borehole.
Is borehole water in KwaZulu-Natal safe to drink?
Of the boreholes the government has tested in KwaZulu-Natal, 4% were over the manganese limit (manganese stains black and tastes metallic). 2% were over the iron limit. These are 2025 results.
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.
Shallow water, wetter ground
KwaZulu-Natal is one of the wettest provinces, and the monitoring boreholes show it: the water sits among the shallowest in the country. That does not always mean a shallow hole. The pump needs water above it in the driest months, so we still drill well below the water level.
Borehole drilling in Durban
Around Durban, plots are small and often sloped, so access for the rig matters as much as depth. The site visit checks where a truck-mounted rig can stand and how far the hole must be from the septic tank or soakaway. eThekwini residents should also check the municipality’s by-laws before drilling.
Towns in KwaZulu-Natal
Borehole drilling in Pietermaritzburg
Our quote tool prices an address in central Pietermaritzburg at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 4.6 m below ground (94% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Borehole drilling in Newcastle
Our quote tool prices an address in central Newcastle at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 8 m below ground (81% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Borehole drilling in Richards Bay
Our quote tool prices an address in central Richards Bay at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 8.9 m below ground (81% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Questions people ask
How much does borehole drilling cost in KZN?
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 Durban?
A typical Durban borehole, about 65 m deep with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, comes to about R43,575 at the national average rate of R330 a metre. Type your address into the quote tool for your own line-by-line price.
How deep is the water in KZN?
Government monitoring boreholes in KwaZulu-Natal put the water at a median of 6.8 m below ground, with the middle half of readings between 3 m and 13 m. We price in KwaZulu-Natal at about 65 m so the pump sits well below the water in dry months.
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 KwaZulu-Natal
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.