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Borehole drilling in Mpumalanga
By BoreholePro. Updated 12 October 2026.
A typical borehole in Mpumalanga 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 Mpumalanga put the water at a median 8.8 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)
- 8.8 m
- Typical borehole
- 65 m
- Drilling rate
- R330 /m
- Lined and pumping
- R43,575
How much does borehole drilling cost in Mpumalanga?
Here is what a 65 m borehole in Mpumalanga 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 Mpumalanga?
The government’s monitoring boreholes in Mpumalanga put the water at a median of 8.8 m below ground. The middle half of readings sit between 3.4 m and 17 m, and 82% are within 20 m of the surface. The national median is 12 m. Latest readings run from 2016 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 Mbombela at about 65 m.
What real holes in Mpumalanga were drilled to
Government drilling records in Mpumalanga show the middle half of holes were drilled to between 55 m and 90 m, with a typical depth of 66 m. About 1 in 7 came up dry. Dry holes are under-recorded, so the real share can be higher, which is why a siting survey (R3,000 to R15,000) is worth it.
For how depth is decided anywhere in the country, see how deep is a borehole.
Is borehole water in Mpumalanga safe to drink?
Of the boreholes the government has tested in Mpumalanga, 20% were over the salt limit (salty water tastes bad and scales up kettles, geysers and pipes). 17% were over the nitrate limit and 4% over the fluoride limit. Tests on record run from 1972 to 2026.
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.
Lowveld and Highveld
Mpumalanga splits in two. The Lowveld around Mbombela (Nelspruit) and White River is wetter, with water closer to the surface. The Highveld around eMalahleni (Witbank), Middelburg and Secunda is coal country, where groundwater near old mines can carry salt and sulphate, so a water test matters more there.
Government drilling records cover parts of the province, so in those areas a quote starts from the depth and dry-hole rate of real holes nearby.
Towns in Mpumalanga
Borehole drilling in Nelspruit (Mbombela)
Our quote tool prices an address in central Nelspruit (Mbombela) at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 12 m below ground (70% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Borehole drilling in Witbank (eMalahleni)
Our quote tool prices an address in central Witbank (eMalahleni) at about 65 m and R46,825, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 8.1 m below ground (73% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R380 a metre on local price lists.
Borehole drilling in Secunda
Our quote tool prices an address in central Secunda at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 6.5 m below ground (76% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Questions people ask
How much does borehole drilling cost in Mpumalanga?
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 Nelspruit?
A typical Nelspruit 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.
How deep are boreholes in Mpumalanga?
Government monitoring boreholes in Mpumalanga put the water at a median of 8.8 m below ground, with the middle half of readings between 3.4 m and 17 m. Drilled holes were typically 55 to 90 m deep. We price in Mpumalanga 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 Mpumalanga
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.