How to Register a Borehole in South Africa — DWS Step-by-Step Guide

Drilling a borehole in South Africa is legal — but it comes with registration obligations under the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998). Thousands of homeowners drill without registering, which can lead to fines, complications during property sales, and no legal protection if a neighbour disputes your water use. This guide walks you through exactly what's required, who needs a licence, and how to register with the DWS.

Do You Actually Need to Register Your Borehole?

The short answer: yes, in most cases. The longer answer depends on how much water you extract and what you use it for.

Under the National Water Act, all groundwater use is a form of water use that must be authorised. There are four ways your borehole can be authorised:

• Schedule 1 — domestic use up to 25 cubic metres/day. No licence needed, but best practice is to still notify DWS.
• General Authorisation — higher volumes for irrigation and certain commercial uses. Registration required.
• Water Use Licence (WUL) — large extraction volumes (typically >100 kL/day). Full application process required.
• Existing Lawful Use — boreholes drilled before the 1998 Act that were in use before 1999. Still requires registration to formalise.

Schedule 1 vs General Authorisation vs Water Use Licence

Schedule 1 — Domestic Use

Allows use of groundwater for reasonable domestic purposes: drinking, cooking, garden irrigation, washing, and toilet flushing on a single property. This is the category most residential homeowners fall under. No formal licence is required, but DWS encourages registration through the WARMS system so the aquifer's total extraction is tracked nationally.

General Authorisation

Covers a wider range of uses including small-scale irrigation of up to 10 hectares, stock watering, and certain recreational uses. You must register with DWS and comply with conditions — but you don't need to apply for a full licence.

Water Use Licence

Required for large commercial operations, boreholes extracting more than 100,000 litres per day, or any use that could impact other water users. The full WUL process involves a hydrogeological study, public participation, and an environmental assessment — it can take 6–18 months.

Step-by-Step: Registering Your Borehole with DWS

For residential and general authorisation boreholes, registration is done through the Water Authorisation and Registration Management System (WARMS).

Step 1 — Gather Your Borehole Information

You'll need: GPS coordinates of the borehole, borehole depth, casing diameter, estimated daily extraction volume, intended use (domestic, irrigation, commercial), and the driller's name and contact details.

Step 2 — Complete Form RRW

Download the Registration of Existing Water Use (Form RRW) from the DWS website. This is the standard registration form for most residential boreholes. Fill in all sections — incomplete forms are the most common reason for delays.

Step 3 — Submit to Your Regional DWS Office

Submit the completed form to your nearest DWS regional office. For Gauteng properties: the Pretoria regional office handles Tshwane and surrounds; the Johannesburg office handles JHB metro and the West Rand. KZN submits to the Durban office; Western Cape to the Cape Town office.

Step 4 — Attach Supporting Documents

Include: a copy of your ID or company registration, title deed or lease agreement, site map or Google Maps screenshot showing the borehole location, and the driller's completion certificate if available.

Step 5 — Receive Your Registration Number

DWS will issue a WARMS registration number, typically within 4–8 weeks. Keep this number on file — you'll need it if you ever sell the property or apply for a water licence upgrade.

Municipality Notification — Don't Skip This

In addition to DWS registration, most South African municipalities require you to notify them before drilling. This is separate from the DWS process and applies even if your use is Schedule 1.

Municipalities track borehole density to manage aquifer depletion in their areas. In areas like Centurion and Irene (Malmani Dolomite), the City of Tshwane has specific requirements around geo-surveys and risk assessments before drilling is permitted. Always check with your municipality before drilling commences — not after.

For City of Johannesburg residents: notify the JRA (Johannesburg Roads Agency) and Joburg Water before drilling. For City of Tshwane: contact the Water and Sanitation Department. For Ekurhuleni: submit a notification to the City of Ekurhuleni Water Services department.

What Does Compliance Cost?

For a standard residential borehole under Schedule 1, compliance costs are modest:

• DWS WARMS registration: Free (the form itself costs nothing to submit)
• Contractor assistance with paperwork: R500–R2,500 if your driller handles it for you
• General Authorisation registration: R0–R1,500 depending on complexity
• Water Use Licence application: R5,000–R50,000+ (requires professional hydrogeologist)
• Yield test certification: R2,500–R6,000 (required for WUL applications, strongly recommended for all boreholes)

The total compliance cost for a residential borehole is typically R1,500–R3,500 — a small fraction of the overall installation cost and far cheaper than the fines for non-compliance. See our full 2026 cost guide for complete installation pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't register my borehole?

Unregistered boreholes have no legal protection. DWS can order you to stop using the borehole, impose fines, or require you to decommission it. More practically, an unregistered borehole can block the sale of your property — conveyancers increasingly require proof of DWS registration before transfer.

Does my contractor handle registration automatically?

Not always. Some contractors include DWS registration in their service package; many do not. Always ask upfront and get confirmation in writing. Even if your contractor submits the form, follow up with DWS directly to confirm receipt and get your registration number.

Can I register an old borehole drilled before 1998?

Yes. Pre-1998 boreholes that were in lawful use before the National Water Act came into effect can be registered as Existing Lawful Use (ELU). The same WARMS registration process applies — you just need to provide evidence that the borehole predates 1999.

How do I find my nearest DWS regional office?

Visit dws.gov.za and navigate to the "Contact Us" section. There are DWS offices in all 9 provinces. For Gauteng, the main offices are in Pretoria (Tshwane region) and Johannesburg (Vaal region).

Do I need a permit just to drill, or only to use the water?

The drilling itself does not require a permit under the National Water Act for most residential boreholes. The registration obligation is triggered when you start using the water. However, in dolomite risk areas (like parts of Centurion and Krugersdorp), your municipality may require a drilling permit before the rig arrives on site.