Two sets of rules apply to a borehole in Benoni: the City of Ekurhuleni's water by-laws, and the National Water Act administered by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). They are separate, and it's the city's rule that most homeowners miss.
1. City of Ekurhuleni: approval before drilling
The City of Ekurhuleni says permission is mandatory before any drilling starts, and drilling without authorisation can lead to legal action under the city's water by-laws.
How the process works, according to the city:
- Request the borehole application form from the city's water department and submit it with the supporting documents the form lists.
- The City Planning Department's Dolomite Section reviews the geology and hydrology. This matters on the East Rand, where parts of the area are underlain by dolomite and drilling can increase sinkhole risk.
- The Water Demand Management Section considers that feedback.
- You receive an approval or rejection letter.
Source and contact details: City of Ekurhuleni: application process for installing a borehole.
Tip: ask your drilling company whether they handle the application or can help with it, and don't let drilling start before you have the approval letter.
2. National registration (DWS): usually not needed for normal home use
In July 2026 the Department of Water and Sanitation confirmed that households using borehole water for reasonable domestic purposes (Schedule 1 use under the National Water Act), including watering a small, non-commercial home garden, do not need to register and can't be penalised for not registering. There's no fixed volume limit; the test is whether the use is reasonable and non-commercial.
Commercial, agricultural, industrial or other high-volume users must register with the relevant catchment management agency. If you run a business from the property, irrigate commercially or sell water, check your obligations. Source: OUTA on the DWS confirmation.
Good practice for every borehole
- Never connect borehole water to the municipal supply without a proper separation and backflow protection installed by a plumber.
- Test the water before drinking it. See borehole water testing.
- Keep your approval letter, drilling log and yield test results. Buyers and insurers may ask for them. See borehole yield tests.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the City of Ekurhuleni before you drill.
Next steps: what a borehole quote should include and borehole drilling cost in Benoni.