Wide ranging water on residential property perspective

Ian Wilson writes:

November 21, 2016

1 minute read

The interesting recent article on boreholes, left out two very important aspects that need to be considered.

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Our underground water reservoirs in Benoni are not what they should be.

Over the years, all new developments in Benoni have been paved and there are fewer areas for water to sink into the ground.

Indiscriminate borehole pumping will deplete the water table and must be discouraged.

Regarding the cost of sinking a borehole, once pumps and tanks are added, the total outlay could be as much as R50 000.

Households presently pay R8,50 per kilolitre if they use 15kl per month (2016 revised rates after including the free 6kl.).

That would buy 5 800kl or the equivalent of 32 years of water at current prices, excluding electricity and maintenance costs.

An average home of 150 square metres can collect 1,5kl (1 500l) from the roof for every millimetre of rain.

A total of 44mm of rain fell over three weeks in October.

That is lower than average, but 150 square metres of surface area would yield 66kl of water; enough for half a month at 15kl per month.

The cost of tanks, filters, pump and piping are still significant, but are far less than a borehole.

The greatest problem is finding an area to place the rain water tanks.

One could optimise the challenge, by using a combination of the free 6kl municipal allowance and rain water.