How a well and a spike well differ
| What matters | Dug well | Spike well |
|---|---|---|
| How the water comes in | flows in through the bottom and collects in the rings | flows in through the filter screen at the end of the pipe |
| Slow inflow | the stored water evens out consumption peaks | the pump can pump out the water around the filter faster than it flows in |
| Soil | also works in sandy clay if the well is dug deeper or wider | needs water-bearing sand |
| Water level | a submersible pump works in a deeper well | a surface pump lifts water from no more than 7–8 m |
| Location | ring above ground, an excavator needs access | a narrow pipe, can also be installed in a basement |
| How dirt gets in | through the cover and the upper joints, with surface water | along the outside of the pipe, if the top is not sealed |
| Maintenance | cleaning with disinfection, from €150 | filter cleaning or replacement; we price it after hearing the situation |
| New source | digging: depends on the job | from €350, without the pump |
Source: building code LBN 222-15 “Water Supply Structures” (Cabinet Regulation No. 326), point 64 (driven wells and dug wells), points 84–86 (dug wells and the bottom filter). Available at: likumi.lv; checked 03.11.2026.
Water quality: why it is often similar
Both sources take groundwater, which is affected by rain, drought and what happens in the surrounding area. Rīgas ūdens (Riga's water utility) states that spike wells are usually 4–15 m deep and exposed to rainwater and nearby sewers. For a dug well, the same risk also comes through the cover and the upper joints.
Iron, manganese and nitrates in both sources depend on the location, so the comparison comes from a test, not from the type of source. A basic test costs from €35, a full one (chemistry and microbiology) from €95: water testing.
Source: explanation by Rīgas ūdens on lvportals.lv in 2026; checked 03.11.2026.
Which source suits which situation
- Garden watering or a summer house in a sandy location: a spike well, because it is quick to install and takes up little space. More details: spike well for garden watering.
- Sandy clay or slow water inflow: a well, because the water stored in the rings gives a reserve.
- No room in the yard for machinery: a spike well, including a spike well in a basement.
- Water needed even without electricity: a well.
- High groundwater and quicksand: a spike well is usually simpler, because digging a well in quicksand is difficult.
If water at your location is deeper than 7–8 m and a well would be very deep, compare both with a deeper source: spike well or borehole and borehole or dug well.
Care: what clogs and how to fix it
Over time, sludge and sand collect in a well, and the water turns cloudy or develops a smell. This is fixed by pumping out, cleaning and disinfection: well cleaning.
In a spike well, the filter clogs up: iron deposits and fine sand block the screen, and there is less and less water. Then spike well cleaning or filter replacement helps. We give a price for this work once we know what has happened.
In winter: what to protect from frost
- Spike well: the pump or pump station is in a warm room, but the pipe from the spike well to the house runs below the frost depth or is insulated. In a summer house where nobody lives in winter, the system is drained.
- Dug well: the water in the well does not usually freeze, but the top ring, the cover and the pipe at the well wall are in the frost zone. The submersible pump's pipe must leave the well below the frost depth.
- Both: if the pipe does freeze, thaw it slowly, not with an open flame.
How to prepare the whole system: winterising the water supply system.
How to choose: three checks
- Neighbours' experience Ask whether there are wells or spike wells in the area, how deep they are and whether water runs short in summer.
- Soil If you found sand when digging in the garden or building foundations, a spike well has good chances. If you found clay, consider a well or a borehole.
- Consumption Estimate whether water is needed all year round and whether the shower, the washing machine and watering will run at the same time.
Costs: a new spike well costs from €350 (usually €350–650), the pump and the pipe to the house are separate. For digging a well, we only give a figure once we know the depth, the soil, the type of rings and the access. More details: spike well, well digging and prices.
Sources
- LBN 222-15: driven wells and dug wells (point 64), dug wells for layers down to 10 m (point 84), bottom filter (point 86) checked 3 November 2026
- Rīgas ūdens: spike wells 4–15 m, exposed to rain and sewers checked 3 November 2026