Licence for the installation of a borehole
What are the requirements for installing a water extraction borehole?
A borehole licence must be obtained from the State Environmental Service (the Service) only if the boreholes are to be deeper than 20 m or if more than 10m3 of groundwater is to be extracted per day.
Before obtaining the license:
- Identification of water supply options and determination of the predicted depth of the borehole in accordance with the required water demand, depth and inclination of the aquiferand the availability of water resources within the aquifer;
- Determine whether the activity complies with the local municipality’s spatial plan (determine whether the local municipality’s spatial plan allows the installation of a water extraction well on the land and whether there are any restrictions on the land, such as a protection zone for cultural monuments, a contaminated or potentially contaminated area, etc.);
- Determine whether the activity complies with environmental protection requirements (whether the land parcel contains specially protected nature areas or habitats). Restrictions in such areas are determined by the relevant Cabinet Regulations or individual nature conservation plans;
- Requesting an opinion from the Health Inspectorate on the suitability of the site for construction.
The procedure for obtaining a licence for the installation of a borehole is regulated by Section 10 (1) (3) (e) and Section 11 (1) (2) of the Subsoil Act and Cabinet Regulation No 696. In order to obtain a licence for the installation of a borehole for water extraction, an application shall be submitted to the Service in accordance with Paragraph 22 of Cabinet Regulation No 696 and shall be accompanied by annexes, including information on the qualifications of the personnel and the technical support to be provided for the work, a work programme agreed with the client, as well as a geological and technical section of the borehole to be drilled.
Borehole installation
After obtaining the license, the borehole is installed. The borehole installation process includes activities such as determining the borehole’s coordinates, identifying the groundwater aquifer and its level within the borehole, measuring the borehole yield (discharge), collecting water samples, determining the chemical composition of the groundwater, and performing bacteriological analyses.
Calculation and coordination of the protection zone around the water abstraction site with the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC)
The calculation of protection zones must be carried out in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 43. The width of the strict protection zone depends on the natural protective capacity of the groundwater aquifer and may range from 10 to 50 meters. The protection zone calculation is reviewed and approved by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC). For boreholes used by individual water users (natural persons) for domestic or drinking water supply purposes, a protection zone is not required if the site is properly developed and wastewater infiltration and water pollution have been prevented.
Coordination of the protection zone with the Health Inspectorate is also required (unless the borehole is used by a natural person for personal needs).
The protection zone calculation, coordinated with the LVĢMC, must be submitted to the Health Inspectorate in order to obtain an opinion on the coordination of the protection zone around the water abstraction site (in accordance with Annex 4 of Cabinet Regulation No. 696).
How is the passport obtained?
Preparation and coordination of the water extraction borehole passport with the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
After the water extraction borehole has been constructed, a borehole passport must be prepared (regardless of the borehole’s depth) and coordinated with the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
In cases where:
- It is planned to abstract 10 m³ or more of groundwater per day;
- Water supply services are provided to more than 50 natural persons;
- Mineral water or thermal water is extracted and used in economic (commercial) activity;
- The extraction of water resources may have a significant impact on the environment.
It is necessary to obtain a water resource use permit from the State Environmental Service (VVD).
For commercial operators who have already obtained an A or B category permit for polluting activities for the specific site, the conditions related to water abstraction are included in that permit, and a separate water resource use permit is not required..
The procedure for installing boreholes that do not exceed a depth of 20 meters (typically known as driven wells or so-called ‘spice’ wells) and from which up to 10 m³ of groundwater is abstracted per day is the same as previously described, except for the licensing requirement — a borehole installation license from the Service is not required.
