One villa may be connected to the city network while its neighbours have a septic tank or a biological treatment plant, and the question is usually the same: how to put the system in order without ruining the garden. We pump out and maintain existing plants, install new ones and build connections to the city network.
A garden with large trees: where to place the plant
The roots of large trees spread over a wide area around the trunk, and digging close to them can damage the tree. The roots, in turn, can later push into pipes and the joints of concrete rings. That's why we choose the position of the tank together with you, looking at the tree crowns, the route for the truck and the distance to the house.
In a cultural and historical setting, appearance matters too. The lid can be set low and covered with a turf or paving insert, the vent pipe can be run up the wall of the house, and the BIO plant's compressor can be placed in an outbuilding. If your property is subject to conditions for protecting the cultural and historical environment, check them with the building authority before digging.
An old septic tank at a villa: replacement, conversion or connection
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| An old brick or concrete-ring septic tank, no sewer in the street | Old septic tank replacement or septic tank conversion into a BIO plant |
| There is a city sewer in the street | Connection; Riga's general co-financing of €1,000–2,000 for a residential house |
| The BIO plant works, but it smells or the alarm goes off | BIO plant repair and maintenance |
A connection at the inspection chamber by the street means a trench through the garden. If it can be routed along a path or across the lawn rather than under the trees, the garden is easier to restore after the work. The trench stays open until the surveyor's as-built survey, and only then is it backfilled. The process: connecting to the mains sewer.
The Ķīšezers shore and groundwater
For houses closer to Ķīšezers, the groundwater can be higher than deeper in the forest. A plastic tank then needs anchoring, and a drain field needs a sufficient layer of dry soil above the water. If there isn't one, the treated water from the BIO plant is discharged wherever this is permitted and possible. If the garden soil is sandy and dry, infiltration usually works well; closer to the shore, we check it with a test pit before making an offer.
The lake shore has a protection zone. If your property is close to the water, check in the spatial plan which parts of the plot fall within it before choosing a location for the plant and the outlet.
What Riga's rules require from a septic tank and a BIO plant
Every septic tank, holding tank or BIO plant is registered with the Riga Housing and Environment Department, and by 1 May a declaration is submitted to it on the volume removed in the previous year. In Riga, the sludge from an ordinary septic tank must be removed at least once a year, and the removal is entrusted to a pumping contractor listed in the Department's register of pumping contractors.
In Riga, a factory-made treatment plant is operated according to the manufacturer's documentation, and maintenance is carried out at the intervals set by the manufacturer or installer. The maintenance certificate must be presented on request. Once every two years, the quality of the treated water must be tested in an accredited laboratory, and the results submitted to the Housing and Environment Department.
During maintenance, we pump out the excess sludge, flush the chambers and check the compressor, air diffusers and floats. BIO plant maintenance in Mežaparks costs from €160. For specific models: AUGUST AT-6 maintenance, PURA maintenance.
Sources: Riga City Council Binding Regulations No. 66, points 4, 5.4–5.7, 26 and 27 (likumi.lv/ta/id/304471); Cabinet Regulation No. 384, point 7 (likumi.lv/ta/id/291947); Riga City Council Binding Regulations No. RD-23-207-sn, point 11 (likumi.lv/ta/id/343520). Checked 30 October 2026.
When a villa is being renovated or stands empty
During renovation, workers use the house's sewer, and cement, paint, plaster or solvents can end up in the septic tank or BIO plant. They settle as a hard layer and kill the bacteria in a BIO plant. For the duration of the building work, it is better to provide a portable toilet and to wash tools away from the sewer.
If a villa stands empty for several months, a septic tank copes, but the bacteria in a BIO plant run out of food. Before you move back in, book maintenance: we clean the plant, check the compressor and, if necessary, help get the bacteria working again (bacteria for BIO plants).
Event days and access
Mežaparks is reached via Meža prospekts, Kokneses prospekts and by tram, but on the days of big events the traffic changes significantly and some streets may be closed. It's better not to plan pumping or installation on such days. If you know a big event is coming up nearby, mention it in your request.
A villa's driveway may be narrow, with gates and paving not designed for the weight of a truck. In that case the heavy truck stays on the street and we run the hose along the path to the lid.
Prices in Mežaparks
- Septic tank pumping in Mežaparks: for a tank up to 4 m³ from €75, for a larger one (up to 6 m³) from €90.
- Annual BIO plant maintenance with sludge pumping: from €160.
- A new biological treatment plant for a family (4–6 people) from €1,750, and installing it in the garden from €800.
- Sewer service pipe to the inspection chamber: from €25/m; restoring the garden surface is priced separately.
Mežaparks is in Riga, so we don't add a travel charge.
Neighbouring northern areas
We also work in Čiekurkalns, Sarkandaugava, Jaunmīlgrāvis and Vecmīlgrāvis. All areas: where we work.