Spike well and borehole in one table
| Criterion | Spike well | Borehole |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | the water level during pumping must be no more than 7–8 m below the pump | down to an aquifer covered from the surface by clay or other dense layers |
| Pump | a surface pump or a pump station in the house | a submersible pump in the borehole, a caisson or an adapter |
| Water quantity | as much as the sand can deliver to the filter | usually more; test pumping shows the yield |
| Water protection | the upper layer is more sensitive to surface pollution and drought | the dense layers above the aquifer hold back surface water |
| Soil | needs sand; a spike well does not work in clay and stones | drilled through sand, clay and moraine |
| Service life | depends on the iron and sand in the water: the filter can clog up | depends on the pipe material and the water; flushed from time to time |
| Documents | no licence needed; ask the municipal building authority (būvvalde) about an explanatory memorandum (paskaidrojuma raksts) | a licence is needed if deeper than 20 m (state fee €35.57); borehole passport at LVĢMC (€115.34) |
| Price | from €350 (usually €350–650), without the pump | from €65/m; ~30 m from €2,000, without the pump and the pipe run |
In its explanation, Rīgas ūdens (Riga's water utility) mentions that spike wells are usually 4–15 m deep, while boreholes from about 30 m are more suitable, though more expensive. This is a general guide for Riga, not a rule.
Source: the law “On Subterranean Depths”, Section 11, paragraph one, point 2; Cabinet Regulation No. 1055, sub-point 2.13; Cabinet Regulation No. 752, point 2.1 of the annex; LBN 222-15, point 64 (a driven well is a water abstraction borehole); Cabinet Regulation No. 253 (engineering structures), point 6.², sub-point 1 (likumi.lv); explanation by Rīgas ūdens on lvportals.lv in 2026; checked 03.11.2026.
How to decide: four questions
- How deep is the water in the neighbours' spike wells and wells? If the water is shallower than the surface pump's limit and the neighbours' spike wells have worked for years, a spike well is the logical start.
- What is the soil like? Sand suits a spike well. Clay, sandy clay or stones mean a borehole.
- How much water do you need? For a summer house and watering, a spike well is usually enough. For a house with two bathrooms and a washing machine where a family lives all year, a borehole gives a reserve.
- What is the water like in the area? If the neighbours' shallow sources have a lot of iron or bacteria, the deeper aquifer may be cleaner, but only a test can confirm this.
Where to find data on boreholes in the area: borehole map. If there is already a water main in the street, also compare with connecting to mains water.
The most common mistakes when choosing a source
- A spike well in clay or sandy clay: there is water there, but it flows in so slowly that the pump empties it in a few minutes and starts drawing air.
- A borehole without a water test: a deeper aquifer may have a lot of iron or a hydrogen sulphide smell, and the filter has to be planned from the start.
- A source in a hollow or close to a waste water system: a shallow spike well is especially sensitive in such a place, because it takes water from the upper layer.
- A pump chosen before test pumping: it has to be chosen by the water level and yield, not from a catalogue.
If the water already has iron or a smell, we explain the solution on the page iron removal.
What each option costs
A spike well with installation costs from €350, a ~30 m borehole from €2,000. In both cases, the pump, the pressure tank, the pipe to the house and, if the tests show it is needed, water treatment are calculated separately. For a borehole, add the equipment (from €500 without the pump) and, if the borehole is deeper than 20 m, the licence.
Over time, the maintenance differs. If the water has a lot of iron, the spike well filter clogs up, and the spike well is cleaned or its filter is replaced; we price this work after hearing the situation. A borehole is flushed if the water turns cloudy or there is less of it, and this costs from €400. All prices: prices.
How we help you choose
- Request Give us the address, how many people live there and whether water is needed all year round. If you know how deep the neighbours' sources are, note it down.
- Comparison with data We look at the data of the nearest boreholes and at which sources work for the neighbours.
- Recommendation with prices We tell you whether it makes sense to try a spike well at your location and give you the price of both options.
- The work If you choose a spike well but clay appears in the ground, we discuss what to do straight away, before we continue the work.
More about each source: spike well and boreholes. Other comparisons: borehole or dug well and dug well or spike well.
Sources
- No licence is needed up to 20 m and 10 m³ a day checked 3 November 2026
- Cabinet Regulation No. 1055, 2.13: licence fee €35.57 checked 3 November 2026
- Cabinet Regulation No. 752, 2.1: passport approval €115.34 checked 3 November 2026
- LBN 222-15, point 64: driven wells are water abstraction boreholes checked 3 November 2026
- Cabinet Regulation No. 253, 6.² 1: explanatory memorandum checked 3 November 2026
- Rīgas ūdens: spike wells 4–15 m, boreholes from ~30 m more suitable but more expensive checked 3 November 2026