Load-shedding, water restrictions, and rising municipal tariffs have pushed thousands of Cape Town households and businesses toward borehole water over the past few years. But unlike municipal supply, borehole water isn’t automatically monitored or treated — which means the responsibility for knowing it’s safe falls entirely on you.
Why borehole water needs testing (even if it looks and tastes fine)
Groundwater in the Cape Town area can pick up contamination that’s completely invisible to the eye or palate: E. coli and other pathogens from nearby septic systems or agricultural runoff, heavy metals from natural geology or old infrastructure, and elevated nitrates from fertiliser use. Taste and clarity tell you almost nothing about microbiological or chemical safety.
What a proper borehole test should cover
At minimum, a borehole water test for domestic or small-commercial use should check:
- Microbiological safety — Coliforms and E. coli
- Heavy metals — including iron, manganese, and copper
- General chemistry — pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness
- Nutrients — nitrate and nitrite, which indicate contamination from runoff or waste
For anything used for drinking, food preparation, irrigation of edible crops, or certification purposes (childcare centres, NGOs, food businesses), it’s worth testing against the full SANS 241:2015 drinking water standard rather than a partial panel — that’s the benchmark South African regulators and auditors will actually recognise.
How it works with TCSC
The Chemistry Solutions Company runs borehole water testing from our base in Muizenberg, with SANS 241:2015 analytical capabilities across the key chemical and microbiological parameters, delivered in partnership with an accredited reference laboratory. Turnaround is typically 5–10 working days from sample receipt, and we handle sampling as well as lab analysis — so you’re not left guessing how to collect a valid sample.
We’ve recently done this exact work for organisations preparing for external audits (including an NGO in Delft testing ahead of a SAGAP certification review), so we’re set up to move quickly when there’s a deadline attached.
When to re-test
Borehole water quality isn’t static — it shifts with rainfall, seasonal water table changes, and nearby land use. A sensible baseline is testing at commissioning, then annually thereafter, or immediately after any noticeable change in taste, colour, or odour.
Get your borehole tested
If you’re in Cape Town and relying on — or considering — a borehole, get in touch: 0742720227 or admin@thechemistrysolutionscompany.com.
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