We take the sample in laboratory containers, deliver it to the laboratory in time and then explain what the result means and what needs to be done. Basic chemical parameters cost from €35, chemistry together with microbiology from €95. We work in Riga and the Riga region.
How a water quality test works
We do not do the tests ourselves. They are done by an accredited laboratory, and our work is what happens before and after the laboratory.
- Choosing the parameters We choose the parameters by the water source and the purpose: choosing a filter, after well cleaning, when buying a house or for a new borehole.
- Taking the sample We take the sample at your place in containers prepared by the laboratory, following the rules described below.
- Delivery We deliver the sample, kept cool, to an accredited laboratory within the time it sets.
- Result We send you the laboratory's test report. The laboratory sets the turnaround time; for microbiology it is longer, because the bacteria are grown on a culture medium.
- Explanation We explain each parameter above the reference value and tell you what to do: nothing, clean the well, sort out the borehole or install a specific filter.
Water sampling: the result depends on it
A wrongly taken sample gives a wrong result. Bacteria can get into the bottle from the tap or your hands, while iron can settle out if the sample stands warm for a long time. So we follow several rules.
- Bottles: for microbiology, a sterile laboratory bottle that is not rinsed and whose cap is not touched on the inside; for chemistry, a clean laboratory bottle rinsed with the sample water.
- Location: a tap before the filters if we want to know the source water; a tap after the filters if we are checking how the filter works. We label the two samples separately.
- Preparing the tap: we remove the aerator, clean the tap and, for microbiology, disinfect the tap outlet.
- Running the water: we let the water run until its temperature no longer changes, so the sample comes from the source, not the pipes.
- We fill the chemistry bottle to the top with no air bubble.
- Timing: we take the sample on a day when it can be delivered to the laboratory within its deadline, and carry it in a cool bag.
You can also take the sample yourself if the laboratory gives you containers and instructions. People choose us when a correctly taken sample and an explanation of what to do with the result matter.
Drinking water quality check: the main parameters
The laboratory usually compares the result with the values of Cabinet Regulation No. 547 on drinking water. The table shows the parameters that matter most for private house water.
| Parameter | Cabinet Regulation 547 value | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| E. coli | 0 CFU/100 ml | Faecal pollution from waste water, manure or animals |
| Coliform bacteria | 0 CFU/100 ml | Surface water or dirt is getting into the source or the system |
| Intestinal enterococci | 0 CFU/100 ml | Like E. coli, faecal pollution |
| Nitrates | 50 mg/l | Fertiliser, manure or waste water in the groundwater |
| Nitrites | 0.50 mg/l | Fresh pollution with nitrogen compounds |
| Ammonium | 0.50 mg/l | Organic pollution in a well, or natural ammonium in a deeper layer |
| Iron | 200 µg/l | Brown stains, yellow water; solved with iron removal |
| Manganese | 50 µg/l | Black spots; removed together with iron |
| pH | 6.5–9.5 | How aggressive the water is to pipes; affects the filter choice |
| Electrical conductivity | 2,500 µS/cm (20 °C) | The total amount of dissolved salts |
| Oxidisability | 5.0 mg/l O₂ | The amount of organic substances |
| Chlorides, sulphates | 250 mg/l each | Saltiness; sulphates can cause a smell in the boiler |
| Hardness | not set | Limescale; softening is a practical choice |
| Turbidity, colour, odour | acceptable to consumers, with no abnormal change | Particles, iron, organic substances, gases |
Important: Cabinet Regulation No. 547 does not apply to a single household's well or borehole, so it does not oblige you to test your water. The figures in the table are reference values against which to compare the result and decide whether and how to treat the water.
Cabinet Regulation No. 547 of 26.09.2023 “Mandatory Safety and Quality Requirements for Drinking Water, and the Procedures for Monitoring and Control Thereof”, Annex 1 (microbiological, chemical and indicator parameters); no limit value is set for hardness. Sub-point 4.5: the regulation does not apply to drinking water from abstraction sites used by fewer than 50 people or where abstraction does not exceed an average of 10 m³ per day. The exemption applies if the water is not used to supply public buildings or delivered as a public water service. Source: likumi.lv, checked 03.11.2026.
Drinking water tests: which set to choose
- Basic chemical parameters (from €35): for example iron, manganese, hardness, pH, ammonium, nitrates and electrical conductivity. Suitable for choosing a filter for a borehole and a spike well.
- Chemistry and microbiology (from €95): the basic parameters plus E. coli, coliforms and enterococci. We recommend it for a well, after flooding, when buying a house and if the water is used for drinking.
- Individual parameters: for example only nitrates, or only microbiology after well disinfection. We state the price from the list of parameters.
Extended tests, such as heavy metals or petroleum products, are rarely needed for a private house. We recommend them when there is a specific reason, for example an industrial area or a filling station nearby.
When water testing is worth doing
- After a new borehole or spike well is made and before choosing a filter: borehole water testing.
- For a dug well regularly, and after flooding and after cleaning: well water testing.
- When the look, smell or taste of the water changes.
- When buying a house with its own water source.
- After a filter is installed, to see how it works.
What we do after the result
If all parameters are below the reference values, we say so, and nothing needs to be bought. If a parameter is above them, we explain the likely cause and the solution. Bacteria and nitrates in a well usually mean the well itself has to be put in order: well cleaning. Iron, manganese and hardness in a borehole are solved with water treatment.
What water testing costs
| Set | Price | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic chemical parameters | from €35 | Borehole, spike well, choosing a filter |
| Chemistry and microbiology | from €95 | Well, after flooding, buying a house, drinking water |
The price is affected by the number of parameters, whether a separate microbiology sample is needed, how many samples we take (for example before and after a filter) and the distance. All prices: prices.
We take samples all over Riga and the Riga region, for example in Baldone, Olaine, Sigulda and Ādaži.