With municipal water cuts now routine across Johannesburg, more homeowners are asking whether to fit a backup tank or sink a borehole. They solve different problems at very different price points — here is how to choose.
The JoJo backup tank: fast, affordable, municipal-fed
A backup tank stores municipal water and feeds it back to your home through a pressure pump and automatic changeover when supply drops. It is the quickest and cheapest route to never being caught without water. The catch: it only holds what you fill it with, so it is sized to ride out outages, not replace your supply.
Cost: a 2,500L system from around R18,500 installed; 5,000L from about R28,500. See water tank installation.
The borehole: independent, bigger investment
A borehole draws groundwater for a continuous, municipally-independent supply — excellent for gardens, pools and larger households. But it is a far bigger commitment: drilling, a pump, and crucially filtration, because borehole water is rarely safe to drink untreated.
Side-by-side
| Factor | JoJo backup tank | Borehole |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | R18k–R45k | R80k+ |
| Install time | 1 day | Days–weeks |
| Water source | Municipal (stored) | Groundwater |
| Drinking water | Already potable | Needs testing + filtration |
| Best for | Riding out cuts | Full independence |
Our take for most Joburg homes
Start with a backup tank — it solves the immediate problem of water cuts for a fraction of the cost and installs in a day. Add a borehole later if you want full independence, and pair it with proper water filtration. Not sure which suits your home and budget? Ask us — we will recommend honestly, no upsell.