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Borehole drilling in the Northern Cape
By BoreholePro. Updated 12 October 2026.
A typical borehole in the Northern Cape 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 Northern Cape put the water at a median 13 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)
- 13 m
- Typical borehole
- 65 m
- Drilling rate
- R330 /m
- Lined and pumping
- R43,575
How much does borehole drilling cost in the Northern Cape?
Here is what a 65 m borehole in the Northern Cape 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 Northern Cape?
The government’s monitoring boreholes in the Northern Cape put the water at a median of 13 m below ground. The middle half of readings sit between 6 m and 27 m, and 64% 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 Kimberley at about 65 m.
For how depth is decided anywhere in the country, see how deep is a borehole.
Is borehole water in the Northern Cape safe to drink?
Government water tests in the Northern Cape came back within the drinking-water limits for iron and manganese. That is a good sign, not a promise: test your own borehole before you drink from it.
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.
Drilling in the Northern Cape
Much of the Northern Cape depends on groundwater, and distances are long, so the drive to your plot is part of the price. The water itself is the bigger question: across the dry interior, salt and nitrate are common in groundwater, so test before you drink it or water a garden with it.
Towns in the Northern Cape
Borehole drilling in Kimberley
Our quote tool prices an address in central Kimberley at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 6.4 m below ground (95% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Borehole drilling in Upington
Our quote tool prices an address in central Upington at about 65 m and R43,575, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 15 m below ground (73% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R330 a metre (national average).
Questions people ask
How much does borehole drilling cost in the Northern Cape?
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 Kimberley?
A typical Kimberley 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.
Is borehole water in the Northern Cape safe to drink?
Government water tests in the Northern Cape came back within the drinking-water limits for iron and manganese. That is a good sign, not a promise: test your own borehole before you drink from it.
Test before drinking: a lab test costs R800 to R2,500.
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 Northern Cape
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.