● Our Services
Everything your organisation needs to access water legally.
From borehole identification to Water Use Licence Applications, Environmental Impact Assessments, and ongoing compliance management — we cover the full spectrum of water law and resource services in South Africa.
● 01 Borehole & Water Resources
● 02 Compliance & Licensing
● 03 Consulting & Management
Service Pillar One
Borehole & Water Resource Services
A scientific, data-driven approach to groundwater identification, development, testing, and analysis. We have a 100% borehole identification success rate — every project begins with thorough hydrological analysis before a single drill touches the ground.
Site Assessment
Borehole Identification & Site Assessment
We use desktop hydrological and geological assessments, analysing groundwater data, geological maps, and satellite imagery to understand aquifer characteristics and recharge potential. Followed by on-site geophysical surveys to pinpoint viable drilling targets.
- Desktop hydrological & geological assessments
- Aquifer characterisation & recharge potential modelling
- On-site resistivity testing & geophysical surveys
- Comprehensive hydrological report with recommendations
- Support for Water Use Licence Applications
Drilling
Borehole Drilling & Development
We oversee the complete borehole drilling and development process from method selection through to final performance confirmation. Drilling methods are matched to site geology, followed by full casing, screening, and aquifer development.
- Geology-matched drilling method selection
- High-quality casing and screen installation
- Borehole development via airlifting and flushing
- Post-development yield testing and water quality analysis
- Long-term performance confirmation
Yield Testing
Yield Testing & Monitoring
Conducted under the oversight of a qualified geohydrologist. Our yield testing determines sustainable abstraction rates while protecting aquifer integrity and meeting all DWS requirements. Step tests and constant discharge tests are carried out to determine sustainable yield and drawdown behaviour.
- Step tests and constant discharge tests
- Drawdown and aquifer recovery monitoring
- Sustainable yield determination
- Aligned with DWS Annexure B requirements
- Data to support WULA submissions
Quality
Water Quality Analysis
Comprehensive testing in accordance with SANS 241:2015, analysed by accredited laboratories. Assessed against Class 1, 2 and 3 limits for clear guidance on treatment requirements.
- Full chemical and microbiological analysis
- Accredited laboratory testing
- SANS 241:2015 classification
- Class 1 — potable, Class 2 — basic treatment, Class 3 — advanced
- Treatment solution recommendations
Service Pillar Two
Water Compliance & Licensing
We manage the full regulatory and licensing journey under the National Water Act and NEMA. Every submission we produce is technically defensible and aligned with DWS expectations — reducing delays and the risk of rejection.
Water Use Licence Applications (WULAs)
We manage the full WULA process under the National Water Act for all Section 21 water uses — abstraction, discharge, and storage. Our approach ensures applications are technically defensible and aligned with DWS expectations.
- ✓ Section 21 water uses — abstraction, discharge, storage
- ✓ Technical reporting and motivation (Section 27 considerations)
- ✓ Stakeholder engagement and public participation
- ✓ Full DWS submission management and authority liaison
Typical timeline per Government Gazette No. 40713 (24 March 2017):
| Step | Process | Max Days | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Pre-application enquiry | 0 | 0 |
| 1–2 | Application submitted & acknowledged | 11 | 11 |
| 3–5 | Site inspection & requirements confirmed | 30 | 41 |
| 6–7 | Technical report compiled & accepted | 115 | 156 |
| 8–9 | Assessment, decision & communication | 144 | 300 |
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)
EIAs undertaken in accordance with NEMA regulations. We focus on achieving practical, compliant environmental authorisations for water and infrastructure projects — managing the full process from scoping through to final authorisation.
- ✓ Basic Assessments for lower-impact projects
- ✓ Full Scoping & EIA processes for complex projects
- ✓ Public participation and stakeholder engagement management
- ✓ Environmental Management Programmes (EMPrs)
- ✓ Focused on practical, compliant environmental authorisations
General Authorisations (GAs)
Where applicable, we facilitate water use registration under General Authorisations — an alternative to projects that do not require a WULA application. We assess eligibility first to ensure this is the right pathway before committing to the full WULA process.
- ✓ Eligibility assessments to confirm GA pathway
- ✓ Technical submissions to DWS
- ✓ WARMS (Water Authorisation and Registration Management System) registration
- ✓ Faster and more cost-effective than full WULAs for qualifying projects
Geohydrological Reporting & Specialist Studies
Detailed groundwater assessments and multidisciplinary specialist inputs to support licensing, design, and regulatory compliance. All geohydrological reporting aligns aligns with DWS Procedural Requirements for Water Use Licence Applications and Appeals (2017) (Government Gazette No. 40713) under Annexure B. for groundwater abstraction.
- ✓ Aquifer characterisation and groundwater impact assessments
- ✓ Borehole yield testing and sustainable yield determination
- ✓ Hydrological and hydraulic assessments
- ✓ Water quality and pollution risk studies
- ✓ Ecological and wetland assessments
- ✓ Aligns with DWS Annexure B requirements
Auditing of Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants
Comprehensive audits of existing treatment systems to assess compliance, performance, and operational efficiency. We identify risks, inefficiencies, and non-compliances, and provide practical, engineering-driven recommendations.
- ✓ Compliance with DWS licence conditions
- ✓ Water quality verification against SANS 241
- ✓ Process performance and treatment efficiency review
- ✓ Mechanical, electrical & control system functionality
- ✓ Operations & maintenance practices and record keeping
- ✓ Risk, inefficiency & non-compliance identification
- ✓ Practical, engineering-driven improvement recommendations
Service Pillar Three
Consulting & Water Management
Strategic water consulting, feasibility analysis, and reuse guidance to help organisations reduce risk, cut costs, and build long-term water resilience. Clear, data-driven insights backed by technical expertise.
Feasibility
Feasibility Studies for Water Projects
We assess the technical and financial viability of water projects before capital investment is committed — providing clear, data-driven decision support.
- ✓ Borehole and groundwater supply feasibility
- ✓ Treatment system selection and sizing
- ✓ Cost-benefit and risk analysis
- ✓ Clear go/no-go recommendations before capital spend
Assessment
Water Balance Assessments
Detailed water balances to quantify inflows, usage, losses, and discharges. Essential for WULA/GA licence submissions, infrastructure planning, and reducing operational costs.
- ✓ Mapping of all water inputs
- ✓ Consumption quantification across all operations
- ✓ Loss, leak and inefficiency identification
- ✓ Wastewater and reuse stream analysis
- ✓ Scenario modelling for optimisation
- ✓ Supports WULA/GA licence submissions
Reuse & Treatment
Water Reuse & Treatment Solutions
Expert guidance on sustainable water reuse and treatment strategies to reduce reliance on municipal supply while ensuring full regulatory compliance.
- ✓ Reuse opportunity assessment
- ✓ Treatment technology selection and design
- ✓ DWS discharge and reuse standard compliance
- ✓ Integration into existing infrastructure
- ✓ Irrigation, industrial and near-potable reuse
- ✓ Cost-benefit and lifecycle analysis
Ready to get started?
Not sure which service you need?
We’ll help you identify the right pathway — whether that’s a full WULA, a General Authorisation, a borehole programme, or an audit. Get in touch and we’ll scope it together at no obligation.