Borehole drilling in Pretoria
By BoreholePro. Updated 12 October 2026.
A typical borehole around Pretoria is drilled to about 70 m and costs about R49,450 with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, at R380 a metre on current price lists near Pretoria. Government monitoring boreholes around Pretoria put the water at a median 23 m below ground, deeper than the national median of 12 m. A site visit confirms the spot, the depth and the final price before any drilling.
- Water below ground (median)
- 23 m
- Typical borehole
- 70 m
- Drilling rate
- R380 /m
- Lined and pumping
- R49,450
How much does borehole drilling cost in Pretoria?
Here is what a 70 m borehole around Pretoria is made of, at the same rates our quote tool uses (checked 12 October 2026).
| What you pay for | Price |
|---|---|
| Drilling, 70 m at R380 a metre | R26,600 |
| Steel casing at the top | R1,500 |
| PVC casing, 70 m | R10,150 |
| Pump for a 70 m hole | R11,200 |
| Borehole, lined and pumping | R49,450 |
Every 10 m deeper or shallower moves the price by about R5,250, 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 Pretoria?
The government’s monitoring boreholes around Pretoria put the water at a median of 23 m below ground. The middle half of readings sit between 12 m and 48 m, and 48% are within 20 m of the surface. The national median is 12 m. Latest readings run from 2019 to 2026.
The monitoring boreholes nearest central Pretoria put the water at about 20 m, so our quote tool prices an address there at about 70 m. Deeper water means a deeper hole and a stronger pump.
For how depth is decided anywhere in the country, see how deep is a borehole.
Is borehole water around Pretoria safe to drink?
The government has few recent water tests on record around Pretoria, 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.
Where can’t you drill in Pretoria?
The City of Tshwane does not allow boreholes on dolomite. As reported by Rekord, the City names Bronberrick and Eldoraigne as areas where boreholes are not allowed, and says a borehole in dolomite suburbs such as Valhalla, Hennopspark, Irene, Lyttelton and Monument Park needs a registered specialist’s certification first. Much of Centurion sits on dolomite.
The City’s other conditions, as reported:
- Use the water only on the property where the borehole is, and don’t sell it.
- Don’t connect the borehole to the municipal water pipes.
- Test the water before anyone drinks it.
- Put up a sign that the property has a borehole.
Rules change, so confirm with the City before you drill. We check the ground on the site visit and won’t drill where the City doesn’t allow it.
Towns near Pretoria
Borehole drilling in Centurion
Our quote tool prices an address in central Centurion at about 65 m and R46,825, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 22 m below ground (49% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R380 a metre on local price lists.
Borehole drilling in Hartbeespoort
Our quote tool prices an address in central Hartbeespoort at about 60 m and R42,800, lined and pumping.
Water at a median 32 m below ground (35% of readings within 20 m); drilling at R380 a metre on local price lists.
Questions people ask
How much does a borehole cost in Pretoria?
About R49,450 for a 70 m borehole with steel casing at the top, PVC casing and a pump, at R380 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.
Is it legal to drill a borehole in Pretoria?
Yes, outside the City of Tshwane’s no-go areas. Household use needs no licence from the Department of Water and Sanitation, but Tshwane does not allow boreholes on dolomite and wants a sign up and the borehole kept off the municipal pipes.
How deep is the water in Pretoria?
Government monitoring boreholes around Pretoria put the water at a median of 23 m below ground, with the middle half of readings between 12 m and 48 m. We price around Pretoria at about 70 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
- Rekord: Are you allowed to drill a borehole in Pretoria? (5 January 2024)
- National Water Act 36 of 1998, Schedule 1 (permissible use of water)
Get a price for your borehole in Pretoria
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.