Borehole drilling in Polokwane
By BoreholePro. Updated 12 October 2026.
A typical borehole around Polokwane is drilled to about 65 m and costs about R43,250 with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, at R325 a metre on current price lists near Polokwane. Government monitoring boreholes around Polokwane put the water at a median 11 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)
- 11 m
- Typical borehole
- 65 m
- Drilling rate
- R325 /m
- Lined and pumping
- R43,250
How much does borehole drilling cost in Polokwane?
Here is what a 65 m borehole around Polokwane is made of, at the same rates our quote tool uses (checked 12 October 2026).
| What you pay for | Price |
|---|---|
| Drilling, 65 m at R325 a metre | R21,125 |
| 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 | R43,250 |
Every 10 m deeper or shallower moves the price by about R4,700, 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 around Polokwane?
The government’s monitoring boreholes around Polokwane put the water at a median of 11 m below ground. The middle half of readings sit between 5.3 m and 16 m, and 83% are within 20 m of the surface. The national median is 12 m. Latest readings run from 2021 to 2026.
Our quote tool prices an address in central Polokwane at about 65 m, the typical depth of the drilled holes nearest it. The pump hangs well below the water so it stays covered in a dry year.
What real holes around Polokwane were drilled to
Government drilling records within 30 km of Polokwane show the middle half of holes were drilled to between 48 m and 88 m, with a typical depth of 62 m. About 1 in 10 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 around Polokwane safe to drink?
Of the boreholes the government has tested around Polokwane, 23% were over the nitrate limit (nitrate is a risk for babies and usually comes from farming and pit toilets). 14% were over the fluoride limit and 4% over the salt limit. Tests on record run from 1968 to 2025.
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.
What the drilling records say about Polokwane
Around Polokwane we don’t have to guess the depth. Government drilling records within 30 km of the city give the typical depth, the flow the holes gave and how often a hole came up dry. That is why a Polokwane quote is one of the tightest we can give before the site visit.
Water quality around Polokwane
Government tests around the city show nitrate as the main problem, with fluoride next. Both are invisible and tasteless, so the only way to know is a lab test after drilling. If it fails, a filter matched to the test fixes it.
Questions people ask
How much does a borehole cost in Polokwane?
About R43,250 for a 65 m borehole with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, at R325 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 deep are boreholes around Polokwane?
Government monitoring boreholes around Polokwane put the water at a median of 11 m below ground, with the middle half of readings between 5.3 m and 16 m. Drilled holes were typically 48 to 88 m deep. We price around Polokwane at about 65 m so the pump sits well below the water in dry months.
How often do boreholes come up dry around Polokwane?
In government drilling records around Polokwane, about 1 in 10 holes came up dry. Dry holes are under-recorded, so the real share can be higher. A siting survey (R3,000 to R15,000) picks the spot most likely to give water, and a dry hole is charged for the drilling but not the pump or full casing.
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 Polokwane
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.