Groundwater and a drilled well
Groundwater means all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the soil or subsoil.
Groundwater is defined as water in the rocks of the upper part of the earth’s crust and in the pores and gaps of the sediment and that can move due to gravity or pressure. If you dig or drill a hole in the permeable soil, then it fills with water at a certain depth. The water level that then stabilizes in the mineral without pressure is the groundwater level, and the water below it in the soil is groundwater.
The soil is saturated (saturation zone) below the groundwater level.
Above the groundwater level, in the non-saturated layer, in the so-called aeration layer (aeration zone), the soil contains water to different extent, but it is not possible to use it (moisture, tied water, infiltration water).
Groundwater becomes available to us due to drilled wells. Drilled wells are used in water supply both for drinking water and production water, as well as for hydrogeological investigations. Drilled wells are also used in geothermal systems.
The construction, reconstruction, conservation and demolition of drilled wells and boreholes are regulated by the Building Code and Regulation No. 43.
Sanitary protection zone of water intake and maintenance area
The sanitary protection zone of a water intake means an area of land and water surrounding a group of drilled well or boreholes used for the abstraction or production of drinking water, where activities are restricted to prevent the deterioration of water quality and protect the construction works of the water intake.
A sanitary protection zone is not formed around a groundwater intake if less than 10 m3 of water for the use or production of drinking water, or production water is abstracted. A maintenance area is formed around such groundwater intake.
The requirements for sanitary protection area and maintenance area of water intake (drilled well, group of boreholes, dug well) are regulated by Division 6 of Chapter 6 of the Water Act.
In order to find sanitary protection areas, maintenance areas and other restrictions on water intake, we recommend using the map application of restrictions of the geo-portal of the Land Board.
WHAT IS GROUNDWATER RESOURCE?
A groundwater resource is a calculated amount of groundwater that can be used in such a way as to ensure the preservation of the good condition of groundwater. Prior to constructing a groundwater intake with a productivity of more than 500 m3 per day, investigations shall be conducted to determine the groundwater resources. More detailed information on the assessment of groundwater resources can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Environment.
WHAT IS A WATER INTAKE OR GROUNDWATER INTAKE?
A water intake or water intake construction work is a construction works for the abstraction of water from a surface water body or aquifer.
For the construction of a drilled well and a borehole
- Agree the location of the drilled well or borehole with the local government. In order to build a drilled well or a borehole, a building design documentation is required, which may be prepared by a person holding an activity licence for hydrogeological work.
- Apply for a building permit for the construction of a drilled well or a borehole from the local government. An application for a building permit may also be made by the designer if an agreement has been concluded with him or her. The application must be accompanied by a a building design documentation of a drilled well or a borehole and other necessary documents.
- The local government approves the application for a building permit for a drilled well or a borehole with the authorities through the procedure of the Register of Construction Works. The Environmental Board approves the location of the drilled well or borehole, or refuses to approve it, within ten business days from receiving the application.
- The local government issues a building permit for the construction of a drilled well or a borehole and a permit for use after the completion of the construction.
- A drilled well or a borehole is built by a person who has been authorised to perform hydrogeological work.
- The person who built a drilled well or a borehole submits to the Environmental Register the data for the construction of a drilled well or a borehole, including water samples. The data is submitted electronically through the e-services of the Environmental Board.
Water application
Necessary application forms can be found in Annexes to Regulation No. 43 and on the webpage of water applications.
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To build a dug well
- Submit a building notice to the local government for the construction or reconstruction or demolition of a dug well.
- An activity licence for hydrogeological works is not required for the construction and reconstruction or demolition of a dug well.
- After the construction or reconstruction of a dug well, submit the data of the built or rebuilt dug well to the general contact of the Environmental Board for entry in the Environmental Register.
- After the demolition of a dug well, the person who demolished the dug well must submit a notice of demolition and accompanying documents to the local government within 10 working days. The local government informs the Environmental Board of the demolition, which will enter the demolition data in the Environmental Register.
- The Environment Agency deals with the entry of the data of existing dug wells in the Environmental Register.
- Provisions of the Building Code and §12-14 of Regulation No. 43 apply to the construction, reconstruction and demolition of dug wells.
Effluent
Untreated effluent must not be discharged into a water body or soil. Wastewater must be cleaned before discharge into the environment in such a way that it complies with the requirements of the Water Act. If wastewater is managed properly in the household, there is no fear of pollution of nearby groundwater (drinking water) or deterioration of surface water bodies.
Any wastewater treatment solution must be agreed with the local government. The construction of a wastewater treatment plant must be in accordance with the local government plans (general, detailed and special plan). A local authority organises the collection of urban wastewater and its treatment before its discharge into a recipient If necessary, an environmental permit must be applied for the special use of water.
Environmental permit for special use of water
Read more about the cases when an environmental permit for the water sector is required.
read moreInstructions for applying for an environmental permit in water sector can be found on the page of water applications.
read moreAN ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT IS NOT REQUIRED
An environmental permit is not required for the discharge of up to one cubic metre of effluent per day into a water body or up to five cubic metres of effluent per day into soil if the effluent complies with the requirements of the Water Act.
PROHIBITION DISCHARGE OF EFFLUENT
It is prohibited to discharge effluent and pollutants onto frozen or snow-covered soil and directly into groundwater, karst and turlough.
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
A hazardous substance is a substance that causes hazard to human health or environment due to its toxicity, stability or bioaccumulation.
Hazardous substances
Hazardous substances enter our aquatic environment mainly from point source pollution, such as industrial activities, wastewater treatment plants and landfills, and from diffuse sources such as plant protection products and fertilisers in agriculture or domestic sewage from households.
Discharge of hazardous substances into a water body must comply with the established legislation. When hazardous substances are discharged into a water body and their amounts of pollution exceed the limit values established by legislation, activities must be planned on how to reduce these pollutants.
Discharge of larger quantities of hazardous substances into a water body is permitted only on the basis of an environmental permit and for a certain period of time. To do this, an application must be submitted to the Environmental Board with the following information:
- Socio-economic justification for not being able to guarantee limit values for hazardous substances
- Data on the mixing area of a hazardous substance or substances (monitoring and map)
- An action plan outlining how and during which period reduction of hazardous substances is planned.
Monitoring
Monitoring is carried out within the framework of the environmental protection permit. Monitoring can be divided into two: company's self-monitoring and operational monitoring.
The environmental permit determines the requirements for conducting self-monitoring of a company. Monitoring data must be provided in the monitoring module of KOTKAS. Monitoring must be carried out at the locations specified in the environmental permit and with the frequency indicated in the permit. The indicators specified in the environmental permit must be monitored. If monitoring cannot be carried out, a justification for the failure to carry out monitoring should be provided in the monitoring module.
The task of the Environmental Board is to organise the operational monitoring of surface water. The objectives of operational monitoring are as follows:
- Identify water bodies that do not meet environmental objectives
- Assess the changes resulting from the programme of measures of a river basin management plan (functioning of fish pass and waste water treatment plants)
- Assessment of the extent and impact of point source pollution (effluent discharge)
- Assessment of the extent and impact of pollution from diffuse sources (agriculture).
When carrying out monitoring within the framework of self-monitoring and operational monitoring of the environmental permit, an evaluated person responsible for sampling must be used, if the field of monitoring is subject to evaluation. The following areas are subject to evaluation: drinking water, surface water, groundwater, seawater, wastewater and effluent and sewage sludge. While sampling in a field where persons responsible for sampling are not evaluated, sampling should adhere to the method recognised in the relevant field of sampling, and ensure that the traceability of the obtained results is certified.
Last updated: 01.12.2022
