Boreholes are booming in a drying South Africa – how the government plans to tighten controls

In South Africa, a water-scarce country, groundwater is a vital supply for small towns and commercial farming.

Approximately 13% of South Africa’s groundwater resources are used for domestic supply, with about 400 towns getting at least part of their water from groundwater, pumped out of the ground using boreholes. Commercial agriculture uses more than 60% of South Africa’s groundwater resources.

Groundwater is less affected by evaporation, making it a natural buffer during droughts and climate change, but it still needs strong regulation to prevent overuse and pollution.