The most common problems in borehole water are iron, manganese, hardness and ammonium, so the list of parameters differs from that for a well. We take the sample at the right point and time, deliver it to an accredited laboratory and turn the result into a specific filter layout. Basic chemical parameters cost from €35.
What to test in borehole water
| Parameter | Cabinet Regulation No. 547 value | Why it matters for the filter |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 200 µg/l | Decides whether you need iron removal, and what kind |
| Manganese | 50 µg/l | Needs filter media that also removes manganese, and often a higher pH |
| Hardness | not set | Whether you need a water softener, and what size |
| Ammonium | 0.50 mg/l | Affects the choice of media and the aeration capacity |
| pH | 6.5–9.5 | pH decides how well iron and manganese oxidise |
| Oxidisability, colour | 5.0 mg/l O₂; colour acceptable | Organic matter interferes with iron removal |
| Electrical conductivity, chlorides | 2,500 µS/cm; 250 mg/l | Salinity; important when choosing reverse osmosis |
| Odour (hydrogen sulphide) | acceptable to consumers | Needs aeration; measured with a separate sample |
| Microbiology | 0 CFU/100 ml | After drilling, repair, or if the borehole head is not sealed |
A spike well (“spice” in Latvian, a driven well) counts as a water abstraction borehole in the regulations, and the same list of parameters suits its water. The difference is the depth: in a shallow spike well it is more often worth testing nitrates too.
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. It sets iron 200 µg/l, manganese 50 µg/l, ammonium 0.50 mg/l, pH 6.5–9.5, electrical conductivity 2,500 µS/cm, chlorides 250 mg/l, oxidisability 5.0 mg/l O₂, microbiology 0 CFU/100 ml. There is no value for hardness. The regulation does not apply to a private supply point for fewer than 50 persons or up to 10 m³ a day on average (sub-point 4.5). Cabinet Regulation No. 326 of 30.06.2015 (LBN 222-15), point 64: driven wells are water abstraction boreholes. Source: likumi.lv, checked 03.11.2026.
Water test after drilling and the borehole passport
The borehole passport also records the results of chemical and bacteriological tests done by an accredited laboratory. The drilling company prepares the passport, and the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC) approves it. If the borehole is new, ask the driller for the tests recorded in the passport and check which parameters they include. If manganese, ammonium or hardness are missing, they are worth testing before choosing a filter.
A sample from a new borehole is taken once the borehole has been pumped out and the water has turned clear. Right after drilling the water contains sand, clay particles and drilling residue, and the result does not describe the borehole. More about the document: borehole passport.
Cabinet Regulation No. 696 on subsoil licences of 06.09.2011 "Procedures for Issuing Subsoil Use Licences and Permits for the Extraction of Commonly Occurring Mineral Resources, and Procedures for Leasing Land of a Public Person for Subsoil Use". Point 13: after creating the borehole, the company prepares the water abstraction borehole passport. Annex 4: the passport states the results of chemical and bacteriological tests by an accredited laboratory. Point 16: LVĢMC approves the passport. Source: likumi.lv, checked 03.11.2026.
How we take a sample from a borehole
- From a tap before all filters, usually at the pressure tank or the pump station. A sample after the filter shows the filter, not the borehole.
- We run the water until it is cool and its temperature stops changing: then it comes from the borehole, not from the pressure tank or the pipes.
- We fill the iron bottle to the brim and get it to the laboratory quickly, because dissolved iron oxidises and settles on contact with air. Whether the sample is preserved depends on the laboratory's method.
- If the water smells of hydrogen sulphide, the laboratory needs a separate sample with a preservative, because the gas escapes.
- If you also want to know how the filter performs, we take a second sample after the filters and label both.
From the result to a filter layout
A test on its own solves nothing, so we turn the result into a specific layout. The examples are illustrative; the real layout depends on the full list of parameters and the water consumption.
- Iron 1,500 µg/l, manganese below 50 µg/l, pH 7.2: aeration with an iron removal filter; a water softener only if limescale is a problem.
- Iron 600 µg/l, manganese 150 µg/l, high hardness: a multi-media filter that removes all three in one column.
- Iron below 200 µg/l but high hardness: only a water softener, no iron removal.
- Ammonium above 0.50 mg/l together with iron: we choose the media by the manufacturer's data for ammonium, and the aeration needs more capacity.
- All parameters below the reference values: no treatment unit is needed, a sediment filter for sand is enough.
The equipment and its order: water treatment and iron removal for a private house.
When to repeat the borehole water test
- After flushing or repairing the borehole: borehole cleaning.
- If the water's appearance changes: sand, colour or a smell appears.
- After a filter is installed, to see what remains in the water after it.
- Before replacing the filter media, if several years have passed since the first test.
How much does borehole water testing cost
For choosing a filter the basic chemical parameters are usually enough: from €35. If you drink the water or the borehole is new or repaired, we also recommend microbiology: chemistry together with microbiology from €95. The price depends on the list of parameters, a hydrogen sulphide sample and the number of samples. All prices: prices.