In the 2025 report of Rīgas ūdens (Riga's water utility), Mežciems is among the neighbourhoods where water services are not available, or only partly available, in some areas or streets. For houses without a service pipe, their own source is the only water source, and people buying such a house want to know what comes with it. This page covers both situations.
Where in Mežciems you need your own source
The report does not name streets and does not say whether the water main, the sewerage or both are missing. So for a particular address we go by the Rīgas ūdens “Service availability” (Pakalpojuma pieejamība) form, not by the name of the neighbourhood. If there is a service pipe at the boundary, an existing house is not obliged to connect, and the municipality does not co-finance water connections. If there is no service pipe, we plan your own source as a long-term solution.
Sources: the Rīgas ūdens contract performance report for 2025 (approved 23.03.2026); its pages “Connecting the service” and “Municipal co-financing for Cohesion Fund projects” (rigasudens.lv). Checked 03.11.2026.
A detached house without a service pipe: spike well or borehole
For a house lived in all year, a borehole is usually safer: it reaches a layer covered from above by denser sediments and gives water even in a dry summer. Drilling costs from €65/m, a ~30 m borehole from €2,000 without pump and pipe run. A spike well (from €350) works if there is water-bearing sand in the ground and the water level is no deeper than 7–8 m from the pump, and it more often serves the garden or as a cheaper start.
We cannot promise the depth in advance: the neighbours' sources, data from nearby boreholes and the drilling itself show it. For a borehole deeper than 20 m, the drilling company applies for a licence from the State Environmental Service (VVD). After the work, the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC) approves the borehole passport within 10 working days (€115.34, a fee charged by the state-owned company). More: borehole passport.
Mežciems borders on Biķernieki forest, and some plots are at the forest edge. The drilling rig needs a firm access road, so say in your request whether a vehicle can get onto the plot and how far from the street the borehole will be.
Sources: the law “On Subterranean Depths”, point 2 of the first part of Section 11 (likumi.lv/ta/id/40249); Cabinet Regulation No. 696 of 06.09.2011, points 13 and 16 (likumi.lv/ta/id/236750); Cabinet Regulation No. 752, point 2.1 of the annex (likumi.lv/ta/id/259619); LVĢMC service 09-35. Checked 03.11.2026.
Buying a house with its own borehole or well: what to check
- The borehole passport: it should give the depth, the casing and the filter, the static and dynamic water levels, the yield from the test pumping and the laboratory tests. If the seller has no passport but the borehole was once registered, LVĢMC can issue a certified copy from the State Geological Fund.
- An old borehole without a passport: the VVD guidance describes a route with a hydrogeological survey and preparing a new passport, and LVĢMC also offers to restore the passport from the fund's data.
- The water: a full test with microbiology (from €95) before the purchase shows whether you will need a filter. An iron removal unit with installation costs from €600, and it is worth knowing that before the price negotiations.
- The pump and the pressure tank: age, pressure and how often the pump switches on. We check on site and tell you what will need replacing soon.
We found no requirement in state regulations that a well or borehole has to be re-registered when a property is sold. But without a passport you do not know how deep the borehole is or what to expect from it. More: borehole registration.
Sources: Cabinet Regulation No. 696, Annex 4 and point 18 (likumi.lv/ta/id/236750); VVD infographic “Actions with historic boreholes without a borehole passport” (updated 20.01.2026, vvd.gov.lv); LVĢMC services 09-02 and 09-26 (videscentrs.lvgmc.lv). Checked 03.11.2026.
Clear water does not necessarily mean clean water
In September 2026 Rīgas ūdens reminded people that if a house uses its own well or borehole, the owner is responsible for the water quality, and clear, good-tasting water can still contain microorganisms. The company advises testing both microbiological and chemical parameters in a certified laboratory, checking the well's concrete rings and cover, and cleaning and disinfecting the well periodically.
We advise the same: a test once a year and cleaning when the water has changed colour or taste or the well has flooded. Cleaning with disinfection costs from €150: well cleaning. If the test shows iron or manganese, we choose the equipment by the result: water treatment.
Source: lvportals.lv 21.09.2026, “Water from a well or a public water main: three myths about water quality, safety and costs” (an explanation by Rīgas ūdens). Checked 03.11.2026.
Institutions and apartment buildings
Mežciems healthcare and other large complexes usually get their water from the city network. If an institution is considering its own borehole, for example as a backup or for watering the grounds, the rules here are stricter than for a family home. A permit is needed as soon as more than 50 people receive the water or abstraction reaches 10 m³ per day. More: borehole for a business. For flats, we help with choosing filters and with tap water testing.
Access and prices
The main streets of Mežciems are Biķernieku iela and Hipokrāta iela, and from them roads lead towards Jugla and Dreiliņi. On the grounds of the large complexes and the sports track we arrange access in advance. Mežciems is part of Riga, so there is no call-out fee: prices.