Thinking of Selling Your Borehole Water? Here's the Real Deal
In a country like South Africa, where water security is becoming more urgent by the year, having your own borehole is already a smart move. But what if you could profit from it too? The idea of selling borehole water is growing in popularity — especially in Johannesburg and surrounding areas where water demand is high and load-shedding doesn’t help municipal supply reliability.
But before you start pumping water into bottles or tanker trucks, there are a few crucial things you need to know. Let’s break down whether selling borehole water is worth it — and what it really takes to do it legally and profitably.
Can You Legally Sell Borehole Water in South Africa?
Short answer: Yes — but not without the right approvals.
Water in South Africa is a national resource, governed by the National Water Act (36 of 1998). If you’re using borehole water for personal or household use, you generally don’t need special permission. But the moment you commercialise that water — by selling it to the public or other businesses — you're entering a regulated territory.
You’ll need to:
- Register your borehole with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)
- Apply for a water use license under section 21 of the Water Act
- Conduct a hydrogeological survey to prove the volume and sustainability of your supply
- Test water quality regularly to meet safety and health standards, especially for drinking water
- Possibly undergo environmental assessments depending on your location and scale
This means paperwork, inspections, and regulatory hoops — but if you play by the rules, you can legally generate income from your water.
What Are the Startup Costs?
Aside from your borehole installation (which you may already have), here are additional costs to factor in:
- Water testing and lab certifications
- Licensing fees and legal consultations
- Storage and transport infrastructure (e.g. tanks, filtration, delivery vehicles)
- Filtration and purification systems
- Hydrogeologist and environmental consultant fees
If you’re planning to sell water for drinking purposes, your purification system will need to meet SABS-approved standards — something LiquaFlo Borehole Solutions can help you with, from custom system design to regular maintenance.
Is There a Market for Borehole Water?
Absolutely. In Gauteng alone, water delivery businesses, commercial property owners, and farms often turn to off-grid borehole suppliers during droughts or restrictions.
You could supply:
- Local schools or clinics during municipal outages
- Construction sites
- Agriculture operations needing irrigation
- Tanker truck services
- Small bottled water operations (note: stricter standards apply here)
A reliable, well-managed borehole could become a steady income stream, especially during peak water demand months.
What Are the Risks?
Before diving into the borehole water business, consider these potential downsides:
- Legal consequences of operating without a license
- Over-extraction could deplete the aquifer or harm local ecosystems
- High upfront costs for infrastructure, testing, and compliance
- Contamination risks if your borehole isn’t well maintained or filtered
Selling water also puts your borehole under heavier strain — which means more frequent pump maintenance, filter replacements, and possibly the need for solar power upgrades if load-shedding disrupts supply.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
If you already have a reliable, well-producing borehole and you’re in an area where water is in high demand — then yes, selling borehole water can be worth it. But you must do it responsibly, legally, and sustainably.
LiquaFlo Borehole Solutions offers tailored purification systems, filtration, pump upgrades, and assessments to help you get your setup compliant and efficient. Whether you’re starting a water business or just want to explore your borehole’s full potential, we’re here to help you make the most of your investment.