Drilling boreholes without consent
There are residents who allow the drilling of boreholes without the written approval of the Municipality and without knowing what the conditions are.
Mr Rudolph Bouwer (Deputy Director, Civil Engineering Services) said this week that residents should be made aware “that only the equipment in the borehole belongs to the owner and not the underground water.
The Department of Water and Sanitation remains the custodian of all surface and underground water!”
The conditions for approval of boreholes are as follows:
•.Water that is withdrawn from the borehole may only be used for the watering of plants and it may not be connected to the municipal water network or be allowed to enter the municipal sewer network.
• The municipality will not be responsible for any costs if a restriction should be placed on the use of water from boreholes.
• A pump house, when placed over the pump, may not be nearer than three metres from the side boundaries of the stand, and may also not exceed the applicable building lines.
• Drilling will only be allowed between 06:00 and 18:00.
• As soon as the work has been completed, the applicant should submit the following information to the office of the Assistant Director of Water Services in the Infrastructure Building situated in SADC Street:
* Borehole name (Street address).
* GPS Coordinates.
* Depth.
* Latest water level.
* Yield.
* Equipment.
* Borehole rest data.
* Borehole construction logs
* The status of the borehole.
• The relevant information will be captured in a national database, which will be made available to the Department of Water and Sanitation.
• Should an emergency drought situation occur, the council shall have the right to utilise water from the borehole and treat the water to a potable standard.
• The proposed drilling exercise must comply with all other Standard Building Regulation Requirements, the National Water Act, the Water Service Act and the Water Service By-Laws.
• The applicant/property owner will be held responsible for any damages caused to any municipal or private infrastructure.
• The applicant/property owner shall, upon completion, submit a site plan on a scale of 1:500 which indicates the exact location of the borehole on the property.
• A notice board, indicating the existence of a borehole, must be placed in a visible place in front of the property.
For any further information contact the Water Services Department, Mr Victor Sambo, on 013 249 7258.
