We work in both: we pump out, maintain, install and build service pipes. Olaine Municipality's rules contain one key condition: where a mains sewer is available, no new decentralised system may be built.
Before a new septic tank: is there a mains sewer in the street?
Olaine Municipality Binding Regulations SN7/2019 state that in areas where a mains sewer is available, owners had to connect by 31 December 2020, and building new decentralised systems there is prohibited. In such a location, an old septic tank can't simply be replaced with a new one. The solution is a connection.
That's why, before making an offer, we find out whether there is a network next to your property. If there is, we build a service pipe to the connection point, install a pump station for a house that sits lower than the sewer main, and pump out and decommission the old tank. If there is no network, we choose between a septic tank, a holding tank and a BIO plant based on the soil and groundwater.
We found no co-financing for connections in Olaine Municipality. The water management regulations SN4/2018 make connection mandatory in areas with a network, but do not provide any support.
Bogs, forests and groundwater: what this means for a septic tank
The area around Olaine has extensive forests and bogs, and drainage systems. In peaty or wet soil, a drain field usually works poorly, because the ground doesn't take the water or the groundwater is too close to the surface. Whether this applies to your plot can only be said after an inspection or a soil survey.
- Groundwater rises high in spring: a solution for high groundwater with an anchored tank and a raised outlet is suitable.
- There is nowhere to infiltrate the treated water: the usual alternative to a sealed holding tank is a BIO plant with an outlet into a ditch, in line with the design.
- The house is used seasonally or a connection is planned soon: the simplest choice may be a holding tank, but it must be emptied regularly.
Olaine Municipality's rules in brief
| Question | How it works in Olaine Municipality |
|---|---|
| Who keeps the register | Olaines ūdens un siltums (the local water and heating utility) |
| How to register | A registration statement (Annex 3 to the regulations, form at olaine.lv) in person, by post or electronically with a secure e-signature |
| Septic tank | Must be pumped out at least once a year |
| Holding tank | Frequency according to water consumption; without a meter, 0.9 m³ a month per person |
| BIO plant | According to the manufacturer's documentation; a company's written maintenance certificate to the water utility by 1 April each year |
| Documents | If there is no contract with a schedule, pumping receipts are kept for at least two years and shown on request |
| Pumping contractors | Only those registered with Olaine Municipality; 11 companies on the list |
| Where the rules don't apply | The villages of Uzvaras Līdums, Veismaņi, Klāvi and Birzuļi, and dry toilets |
Changes, such as selling the property or replacing the system, must be reported within a month. The municipality recommends choosing a pumping contractor from its list at olaine.lv. For breaching the rules, an individual can be given a warning or a fine of up to 70 fine units.
Sources: Olaine Municipality Binding Regulations SN7/2019 (points 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 14, 23, 29–32, 35), as amended on 04.06.2025 (likumi.lv); amendments SN6/2025 (likumi.lv); water management regulations SN4/2018 (likumi.lv); olaine.lv: list of registered pumping contractors. Checked on 30 October 2026.
How often a holding tank must be emptied in Olaine: an example
For a family of three without a water meter, the calculation gives 0.9 × 3 × 12 = 32.4 m³ a year. If the holding tank is 8 m³, it must be emptied at least four times a year (32.4 ÷ 8 ≈ 4). At our price for up to 10 m³ (from €110 per visit), that comes to around €440 a year, and travel has to be added outside Riga. With a meter, the calculation uses actual consumption.
In wet, peaty ground, it is worth comparing the calculation with reality. If the tank has to be emptied much more often than the formula shows, groundwater is most likely getting in through the joints or the lid. If less often, wastewater may be leaking into the ground. In both cases, we inspect the tank after the next pumping and tell you what we saw.
Industrial and warehouse areas
Olaine was planned as an industrial and residential town, and production, warehouse and railway sites are an important part of it. For businesses, we offer pumping for businesses, grease trap cleaning for canteens and treatment plants for businesses that have no connection.
On industrial premises, access and safety rules differ from residential streets: you may need a pass, a safety briefing or a set entry time. Write this in your request so that we can agree the working day with the site manager. If the tank receives more than domestic wastewater, state that too, because we first need to find out whether such contents may be delivered to a reception point.
Services and prices in Olaine
- Septic tank pumping in Olaine: from €75 up to 4 m³, from €90 up to 6 m³.
- Holding tank pumping: up to 10 m³ from €110.
- BIO plant maintenance: from €160, with a written certificate to submit to the water utility by 1 April.
- Sewer installation and a service pipe to the network: from €25/m.
- Biological treatment plants for 4–6 people: from €1,750, installation work from €800.
Olaine is outside Riga, so we add a travel charge of ~€1/km to the price of the work. The town is easy to reach via the A8, and we give the exact amount before the work, once the volume and address are known.
Nearby areas
On this side of the Riga region, we also work in Mārupe, Baloži and Jelgava, and you'll find the Riga neighbourhoods on the Riga page. Full list: where we work.