Drilling a borehole? Be compliant warns metro

The CoE has outlined the legal process for those intending to drill a borehole on their properties and reminded residents that drilling a borehole without approval is illegal.

The city’s water by-laws make it clear that permission to install a borehole is mandatory before any drilling can commence. Therefore, residents interested in installing boreholes within the city need to follow a specific application process for approval and to ensure compliance with local regulations.

These strict regulations are there to avoid water overuse and potential damage to the environment and public infrastructure. All those found drilling without approval may face legal repercussions, cautioned metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

Dlamini said the city is inundated with requests for boreholes, hence the municipality took proactive action to emphasise the importance of seeking approval first.

“Not only does this process ensure compliance with local laws, but it also helps in managing water resources sustainability, given that groundwater is considered a public resource under the National Water Act 45,” explained Dlamini.

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Approval process to follow:

• Property owners must initiate the process by requesting the application form. This can be done via email to either Mthokozisi Mlotshwa at Mthokozisi.Mlotshwa@ekurhuleni.gov.za or Liziwe Mabulu at Liziwe.Mabulu@ekurhuleni.gov.za.

• After filling out the application form, residents should submit it along with all required supporting documents via email to the same contacts mentioned above. The specific documents needed are outlined in the application form itself.

Once submitted, the application is forwarded to the City Planning Department’s Dolomite Section for review and comments. This step is crucial as it assesses any potential impacts on local geology and hydrology.

Following the review, feedback from the Dolomite Section is sent to the Water Demand Management Section for further consideration. This ensures that all aspects of water usage and sustainability are evaluated.

Based on the evaluations, an approval or rejection letter will then be drafted. This letter will inform the applicant of the outcome of their request.

The final step involves sending the drafted approval or rejection letter to the head of department (HOD) for signature and completing the formal approval process.

“To promote responsible water usage, applicants must diligently follow the application steps and seek approval before proceeding with any drilling activities.”

For further assistance or clarification, residents are encouraged to contact the department directly via the provided emails.

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