Time to sink a borehole?
Load shedding has caused disruptions in every area of the economy, but even more concerning, is the impact on the country’s ability to supply municipal water, since water reservoirs need power to pump water to the towers.
Omar Kinnear, developer of online communications platform, ResidentPortal, points to recent, days-long water cuts in a number of metros, including Johannesburg and Cape town. “The situation has given rise to many homeowners and residential estates considering sinking boreholes as an alternative to municipal supply,” he says.
However, the process isn’t as simple as calling a borehole company to sink a borehole in your estate or garden, as there are a number of factors to consider before taking that step.
Below is some general information and considerations drawn from an article by Schindlers Attorneys:
License to use water out of the borehole
A person may only use water without a licence if it is lawfully permissible. There are three “levels” of usage described in the National Water Act 36 of 1998. These “levels” are based on the amounts of water drawn from the borehole. An owner may also be required to give notice to the relevant municipality of the intention to drill a borehole.
Schedule 1 water use
If your water use is limited to reasonable domestic (household) use (which can include small gardens not used for commercial purposes), then there is no need to register your water use.
There is no “maximum limit” set for the amount of water that can be used for reasonable domestic purposes in terms of the National Water Act, but this Act does give the water catchment management agency that operates in the area the power to stipulate a maximum amount.
You would need to check with the applicable catchment management agency whether it has set a limit for your area.
Some municipalities may charge for water drawn from a borehole
In COJ’s jurisdiction you won’t pay for the water drawn from the borehole, but you might be charged for sewer generated based on the water drawn from the borehole. Some municipalities by-laws give them the power to decide at a later stage that it can prescribe limits to the amount of water to be drawn from the borehole, and impose a cost for same. Tshwane Municipality, presumably for the same reason, advises that new owner meter their water usage and keep a record of monthly consumption (Check with your municipality).
You are responsible for the quality of the water from your borehole
The municipality cannot be held liable for the poor quality of the water in your borehole. You should have the quality of your borehole water tested regularly to ensure that it is safe to drink and to use for other households and/or commercial purposes. Many municipalities (including COJ) empower themselves through their Health By-laws to call for particulars of your water source (details of the borehole), proof that the water quality is sufficiently safe, and some (including COJ) even require that a certificate be submitted annually (or when requested by a Health Officer) as proof of same.
Danger to the public
You need to ensure that your borehole is properly covered so that no person or animal can fall into it and sustain injuries. In the event that any person or animal is injured in this manner you may be held liable for damages. You also need to ensure that your borehole is not being contaminated by any source, as this will lead to the groundwater source (from which your borehole draws water) being contaminated too. Most municipalities regulate this in their Health By-laws.
Costs of sinking a borehole
There are considerable costs associated with the sinking of the borehole. These include the cost of drilling (which can be R 40,000 or more), the cost of the electricity to power the pump needed to pump the water from the borehole, the monthly insurance for the borehole pump and the maintenance and replacement, where necessary.
Conclusion
When making the election whether to use a borehole or a sink borehole, one should consult an expert in this regard and ensure that any legal requirements (as well as any practical requirements) are met before embarking on the drill.
ABOUT ResidentPortal
ResidentPortal is developed and managed by Sandton-based software consulting and development company, Business Xponent Solutions (BXS). The estate communication platform is one of the products emerging from 20 years of experience in the software industry of its founder, Omar Kinnear. One of the original developers of the SARS eFiling platform, Kinnear brings to ResidentPortal a wealth of knowledge of system performance and security.
Since 2016, around 100 complexes are using the Free Plan of ResidentPortal, and over 1000 residents, mostly in and around Gauteng, are benefiting from the way the full-featured Standard and Pro packages are simplifying their lives in their estates and complexes.
For more information, contact: Omar Kinnear, 078 798 3378
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