Borehole map: how to use borehole data before drilling

Where borehole data is kept

Within the state geological information system, LVĢMC maintains the “Urbumi” database: it contains water supply, hydrogeological, monitoring and other boreholes. The data gets there from borehole passports and from the geological information that drillers hand over to the state. The regulations also provide for the Subsoil Information System (ZDzIS), which must also include groundwater abstraction and monitoring boreholes.

The public ZDzIS map is available at zdzis.lvgmc.lv/portals. According to the LVĢMC description, it contains the register of mineral deposits and the register of State Geological Fund reports, with a map showing where exploration work took place. You can search by address, place or cadastral designation, and no login is needed to view it.

The LVĢMC description does not mention a separate layer for water boreholes, and we were unable to check whether private water boreholes are visible on the map. So do not count on finding your neighbour's borehole on the map. The safer route is to order the data from LVĢMC.

How to get borehole data for your location

The statement is most useful if you are planning a new borehole. It gives the depth and thickness of the aquifer, the approximate static water level, the possible operating interval and the yields of boreholes in the area. There is also data on mineralisation, total hardness and substances found above the limits in the aquifer, for example iron, sulphates and chlorides.

The application for a statement needs the Land Register certificate, the land boundary plan with the planned borehole location, and the planned water consumption per day. It takes 10 working days. The prices are taken from the LVĢMC service catalogue on 03.11.2026: they are LVĢMC prices, not ours, and the catalogue does not state the date they took effect, so check them before ordering.

How to read a borehole cross-section

• Layers from the surface down: sand, clay, sandy clay, moraine (clay with stones), and deeper sandstone or dolomite. A thick layer of clay above the aquifer protects it from surface pollution.
• Aquifer: the layer from which the water is taken, and the filter interval within it.
• Static level: where the water stands in the borehole when the pump is not running.
• Dynamic level: the level during pumping. It is used to decide how deep to lower the pump. If it is no deeper than 7–8 m and the ground is sand, a spike well (“spice” in Latvian) may also be suitable.
• Yield: how many litres per second the borehole gave during test pumping.
• Year of drilling: an old borehole shows the geology well, but not necessarily the current water composition.

What the data does not tell you

• The exact depth on your plot: layers change even between neighbouring plots.
• The amount of water in your borehole: only test pumping shows that.
• The current water quality: the tests in the passports of boreholes in the area may have been done many years ago.
• Boreholes without documents: if a neighbour's spike well or borehole has no passport, its data will not be in the database.

Rīgas ūdens (Riga's water utility) gives a general guide for Riga: spike wells are usually 4–15 m deep and more exposed to rainwater and nearby sewers, while boreholes from about 30 m are more suitable, though more expensive. This is not a promise for a specific location.

Before drilling: how to use the data

1. Neighbours Ask your neighbours how deep their boreholes or spike wells are, how much water they give and whether there is iron in the water.
2. LVĢMC data If you are planning a borehole, order an LVĢMC statement or a list of boreholes in the area with cross-sections.
3. Driller Show the data to the driller. Before the work, we look at the available data on the nearest boreholes and tell you the expected depth and price.
4. Documents The expected depth makes it clear whether you will need a licence from the State Environmental Service (VVD): borehole registration.

Drilling costs from €65/m, and a typical private house borehole about 30 m deep costs from €2,000 without the pump and the pipe run. So data that helps predict the depth also helps the budget. How the work is done: boreholes; prices: prices.