South Africa Runs on Groundwater – Where to Focus Your Borehole Drilling
Across South Africa, boreholes are no longer a luxury – they are core infrastructure. More than 280 towns and cities are partly or fully supplied by groundwater, and around 74% of rural residents rely on boreholes and wells for their day-to-day water. This page explains where drilling demand is strongest, how deep most boreholes are, and how Drillbuilders rigs fit the market.
depend partly or fully on groundwater for water supply.
of rural South Africans rely on boreholes and wells.
of national water use goes to agriculture (surface and groundwater combined).
Why Borehole Drilling Demand Is Growing in South Africa
South Africa is a water-scarce country. Climate variability, load-shedding at pump stations and ageing municipal infrastructure mean surface water alone cannot keep up with demand. Groundwater is increasingly used as a backup and, in many towns and farms, the primary source of reliable supply.
- Municipal stress: National reports highlight increasing pressure on rivers and dams, pushing municipalities to develop groundwater fields around towns.
- Rural gaps: A significant share of rural South Africans still lack a dependable water source – even in areas where usable aquifers exist below the surface.
- Agricultural risk: Agriculture is the single largest water user, and a growing share of irrigation water comes from groundwater to stabilise yields in dry periods.
Where Borehole Drilling Demand Is Strongest
Borehole distribution and groundwater-use data show concentrated drilling activity in specific regions, driven by irrigation, town supply and rural settlements. These are prime focus areas for drilling contractors and for rigs such as the Drillbuilders SAR100.
Limpopo & North West
- High density of registered boreholes in farming areas and rural settlements.
- Limpopo alone accounts for a large share of national irrigation groundwater use.
- Strong demand for 100–200 m irrigation and domestic boreholes.
Vaal, Free State & North-Eastern Northern Cape
- Important water management area for irrigation and mixed agriculture.
- Many commercial farms and small towns using boreholes as backup or primary supply.
Eastern Cape
- One of the largest users of groundwater for domestic and town water-supply services.
- Many small schemes and rural communities dependent on boreholes.
KwaZulu-Natal & Mpumalanga
- Strong combination of irrigation, rural communities and mining.
- In some areas, mining accounts for a high share of local groundwater use.
Karoo & Central / Northern Cape
- Low rainfall and limited surface water, with many towns and farms relying on deeper hard-rock boreholes.
- Ideal territory for robust rigs with strong pullback and down-the-hole (DTH) capability.
Tip: On this page you can add a South Africa map highlighting Limpopo, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, KZN, Mpumalanga and the Karoo as key groundwater regions.
Typical Borehole Depths in South Africa
Most South African domestic and agricultural production boreholes are drilled in the 40–200 m range, depending on local geology. Many installers consider 30–200 m to be the normal band for residential and farm holes, with 80–120 m being very common in hard-rock terrains.
| Depth band | How common | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0–40 m | Less common for full production boreholes | Shallow wells, springs and some high-yield aquifers |
| 40–80 m | Very common | Many household and small-farm boreholes |
| 80–120 m | Very common | Domestic and agricultural holes in hard-rock areas |
| 120–200 m | Moderate | Commercial farms, municipal supply and semi-arid regions |
| >200 m | Special cases | High-value mining or major municipal schemes |
Main Uses of Boreholes and Groundwater
Groundwater is not just about garden taps; it underpins food security, basic services and industry. While exact numbers vary by study, the overall pattern is consistent across South Africa.
Approximate share of groundwater use by sector
≈55–64% of abstracted groundwater.
≈11–20% for towns and rural domestic schemes.
≈15–30% combined, depending on the region.
You can replace this block with a simple pie chart image for visual impact, using the same percentages.
What this means in practice
- Irrigation: Farms use groundwater to stabilise yields when rivers and dams run low. This drives a constant need for new boreholes and for rehabilitation of older holes.
- Domestic and town supply: Hundreds of towns and rural schemes depend partly or fully on boreholes. When boreholes fail, entire communities can be without water.
- Mining and industry: Groundwater is used as a resource and must also be controlled (dewatering), creating specialised drilling niches around mines and industrial areas.
How Drillbuilders Rigs Match the South African Borehole Market
At Drillbuilders we design water well drilling rigs specifically for real South African conditions – hard rock, variable water levels and long distances between jobs. The SAR100 concept focuses on exactly the depth, diameter and mobility band where most drilling work is found.
Designed for the main depth band
- Optimised for up to 200 m drilling depth.
- Matches the 40–200 m range where most domestic and agricultural boreholes are drilled.
- Suitable for common casing sizes used in South African borehole construction.
Ideal for high-need regions
- Well suited to Limpopo, North West, Free State/Vaal, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Karoo.
- Handles both DTH and mud rotary conditions seen in many of these areas.
- Robust enough for hard-rock environments and semi-arid regions with deeper boreholes.
Built for mobility and productivity
- Truck-mounted design enables fast moves between sites and long-distance work.
- Reduces mobilisation and demobilisation time compared with small track rigs in many scenarios.
- Engineered to carry tooling and support equipment needed for a complete drilling package.
Start or Grow Your Borehole Drilling Business with Drillbuilders
Whether you are launching a new drilling business or upgrading an existing fleet, Drillbuilders can help you select a rig package that matches your target area, typical borehole depths and preferred drilling methods.
Get expert advice on the SAR100 and other Drillbuilders solutions, and focus your effort where the need for drilling is greatest in South Africa.
Talk to a rig specialistPrefer email or phone? Contact us at sales@drillbuilders.com or call +27 (0)10 500 1605.
South Africa Runs on Groundwater – Where to Focus Your Borehole Drilling
Across South Africa, boreholes are no longer a luxury – they are core infrastructure. More than 280 towns and cities are partly or fully supplied by groundwater, and around 74% of rural residents rely on boreholes and wells for their day-to-day water. This page explains where drilling demand is strongest, how deep most boreholes are, and how Drillbuilders rigs fit the market.
depend partly or fully on groundwater for water supply.
of rural South Africans rely on boreholes and wells.
of national water use goes to agriculture (surface and groundwater combined).
Why Borehole Drilling Demand Is Growing in South Africa
South Africa is a water-scarce country. Climate variability, load-shedding at pump stations and ageing municipal infrastructure mean surface water alone cannot keep up with demand. Groundwater is increasingly used as a backup and, in many towns and farms, the primary source of reliable supply.
- Municipal stress: National reports highlight increasing pressure on rivers and dams, pushing municipalities to develop groundwater fields around towns.
- Rural gaps: A significant share of rural South Africans still lack a dependable water source – even in areas where usable aquifers exist below the surface.
- Agricultural risk: Agriculture is the single largest water user, and a growing share of irrigation water comes from groundwater to stabilise yields in dry periods.
Where Borehole Drilling Demand Is Strongest
Borehole distribution and groundwater-use data show concentrated drilling activity in specific regions, driven by irrigation, town supply and rural settlements. These are prime focus areas for drilling contractors and for rigs such as the Drillbuilders SAR100.
Limpopo & North West
- High density of registered boreholes in farming areas and rural settlements.
- Limpopo alone accounts for a large share of national irrigation groundwater use.
- Strong demand for 100–200 m irrigation and domestic boreholes.
Vaal, Free State & North-Eastern Northern Cape
- Important water management area for irrigation and mixed agriculture.
- Many commercial farms and small towns using boreholes as backup or primary supply.
Eastern Cape
- One of the largest users of groundwater for domestic and town water-supply services.
- Many small schemes and rural communities dependent on boreholes.
KwaZulu-Natal & Mpumalanga
- Strong combination of irrigation, rural communities and mining.
- In some areas, mining accounts for a high share of local groundwater use.
Karoo & Central / Northern Cape
- Low rainfall and limited surface water, with many towns and farms relying on deeper hard-rock boreholes.
- Ideal territory for robust rigs with strong pullback and down-the-hole (DTH) capability.
Tip: On this page you can add a South Africa map highlighting Limpopo, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, KZN, Mpumalanga and the Karoo as key groundwater regions.
Typical Borehole Depths in South Africa
Most South African domestic and agricultural production boreholes are drilled in the 40–200 m range, depending on local geology. Many installers consider 30–200 m to be the normal band for residential and farm holes, with 80–120 m being very common in hard-rock terrains.
| Depth band | How common | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0–40 m | Less common for full production boreholes | Shallow wells, springs and some high-yield aquifers |
| 40–80 m | Very common | Many household and small-farm boreholes |
| 80–120 m | Very common | Domestic and agricultural holes in hard-rock areas |
| 120–200 m | Moderate | Commercial farms, municipal supply and semi-arid regions |
| >200 m | Special cases | High-value mining or major municipal schemes |
Main Uses of Boreholes and Groundwater
Groundwater is not just about garden taps; it underpins food security, basic services and industry. While exact numbers vary by study, the overall pattern is consistent across South Africa.
Approximate share of groundwater use by sector
≈55–64% of abstracted groundwater.
≈11–20% for towns and rural domestic schemes.
≈15–30% combined, depending on the region.
You can replace this block with a simple pie chart image for visual impact, using the same percentages.
What this means in practice
- Irrigation: Farms use groundwater to stabilise yields when rivers and dams run low. This drives a constant need for new boreholes and for rehabilitation of older holes.
- Domestic and town supply: Hundreds of towns and rural schemes depend partly or fully on boreholes. When boreholes fail, entire communities can be without water.
- Mining and industry: Groundwater is used as a resource and must also be controlled (dewatering), creating specialised drilling niches around mines and industrial areas.
How Drillbuilders Rigs Match the South African Borehole Market
At Drillbuilders we design water well drilling rigs specifically for real South African conditions – hard rock, variable water levels and long distances between jobs. The SAR100 concept focuses on exactly the depth, diameter and mobility band where most drilling work is found.
Designed for the main depth band
- Optimised for up to 200 m drilling depth.
- Matches the 40–200 m range where most domestic and agricultural boreholes are drilled.
- Suitable for common casing sizes used in South African borehole construction.
Ideal for high-need regions
- Well suited to Limpopo, North West, Free State/Vaal, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Karoo.
- Handles both DTH and mud rotary conditions seen in many of these areas.
- Robust enough for hard-rock environments and semi-arid regions with deeper boreholes.
Built for mobility and productivity
- Truck-mounted design enables fast moves between sites and long-distance work.
- Reduces mobilisation and demobilisation time compared with small track rigs in many scenarios.
- Engineered to carry tooling and support equipment needed for a complete drilling package.
Start or Grow Your Borehole Drilling Business with Drillbuilders
Whether you are launching a new drilling business or upgrading an existing fleet, Drillbuilders can help you select a rig package that matches your target area, typical borehole depths and preferred drilling methods.
Get expert advice on the SAR100 and other Drillbuilders solutions, and focus your effort where the need for drilling is greatest in South Africa.
Talk to a rig specialistPrefer email or phone? Contact us at sales@drillbuilders.com or call +27 (0)10 500 1605.