Borehole water is water that is extracted from a narrow shaft bored in the ground, either vertically or horizontally, known as a borehole. Boreholes are constructed for many different purposes, including the extraction of water, and are used to access pure underground water that is naturally flowing. When it rains, the rainwater seeps through the layers of soil and rock and is known as groundwater. This can also be contributed to by streams, rivers, and dams.

Advantages of borehole water include that it is an affordable option and is arguably the cheapest way to deliver water to homes and for crops. If there is a good flow of groundwater, once a borehole has been dug, it can be used for all water needs. In normal conditions, groundwater that is tapped is safe for limited agricultural needs as well as for domestic use, but will most likely need some form of purification. Borehole water is suitable for domestic non-potable uses such as toilet flushing, car and clothes washing, as well as watering of grass, gardens, and even crops.

Disadvantages of borehole water include that it cant be used for every form of consumption without purification treatment, such as cooking, watering edible plants, and drinking. It is always advisable to have this water tested before use.

Boreholes can be drilled by hand or using a large rotary drill that can penetrate much deeper into the ground. A perforated casing that lines the borehole is what allows water to come through. The deeper the borehole, the more casing needed and the more water that is able to pass through. The size of the property and the amount of water expected to be used will determine borehole depth. Up to 20,000 liters of water a day can be supplied via a borehole.