A geologist by the name of Dr Draper, was commissioned to look for water and after some search on the farm Zuurbekom, Dr Draper found what everybody was looking for.  He tied his handkerchief to the branch of a thorn bush and arriving back in Johannesburg, told the Water Works Commission “go to Zuurbekom, you will find my handkerchief tied to a tree, sink a borehole there and you will find water, plenty of it.” In 1896 and 1897 the Water Works Commission secured a stable supply of water from the Zuurbekom Water Supply Companies wells.  This water was found to be crystal clear and did not require any additional treatment.