Basteja bulvaris 1
LV-1495 Riga
Latvia

Tel. 371 7 088 555
Fax 371 7 222 660

E-Mail

Since the enterprise is owned by the city fees for use of water and sewerage systems (compared to other utilities) are low because the existing tariffs are approved by Riga City Council. Water supply tariffs in the capital of Latvia are revised once a year. Tariff increases shall not exceed 85% of the official inflation level of the country.

Water supply

The development of the centralised water supply network in Riga proceeded in an interesting and quite peculiar way. The first water supply device in Riga was built in 1620 to take water from an open reservoir. The plunger pumps of the devices were driven by horses, and the water ran through wooden pipes to pools and to some houses of Riga’s noblemen.

One of the four water towers in Riga, built in 1897

Board of Directors of Riga Water, standing from left: Mr Viktors Juhna, Director of Production, Mr Uldis Bambe, General Director, and Mr Aleksandrs Bronfmans, Director of Supply. Sitting from left: Ms Dace Betkere, Legal Advisor, Ms Daiga Steina, Director of Finance and Economy, and Mr Aivars Zants, Director, and Manager of Riga Water and Environment Project

A new pump station in Maskavas Street began to work in 1863 using water from the Daugava. The quantity of water satisfied the needs of the city. At the beginning of the 20th century, the quality of water in the Daugava changed for the worse, and new water intakes were sought outside the city. At the end of 1904 the ground water intake station 'Baltezers', located 20 km from the city, was put into operation. In the following years the new water intake site was extended and new wells were drilled. New water intake sites were sought to meet the increasing demand after World War II, as the industrial production of Riga grew along with the size of population. Several new water intake and pumping stations were developed in the 1960's and 1970's: 'Baltezers I', 'Baltezers II', 'Rembergi', 'Gauja I', 'Gauja - experimental', 'Jugla', 'Katlakalns'.

However, the main water supplier is the drinking water station 'Daugava', completed in 1979. The designed capacity of the station at the beginning of operation was 220, 000 m3 of water per day. However, in the middle of the 1980’s, with a change in drinking water standards, productivity of the station was reduced to meet quality requirements. At present the 'Daugava' station treats water in two stages using chemicals. European quality standards will be introduced in the near future, so new technical solutions, chemicals and means of disinfection the company must find. To ensure the safety of the water treatment station 'Daugava', and preparation of water

In spite of the large productivity of the station 'Daugava', half of the drinking water supplied to Riga is received from ground water intakes. The existing eight ground water pumping stations use more than 500 drilled wells for water intake.

Wastewater treatment plant 'Daugavgriva'

The task of improving the quality of drinking water according to European standards sets additional requirements to water obtained from ground water intakes. These changes will require dealing with complicated environmental issues in the area of ground water intakes, as well as change to the water intake process and use of technologies. 'Riga Water', together with leading Latvian specialists, has developed a long term programme for more efficient use of ground water that must be implemented by 2010. The programme will result in an increase of the total share of ground water in the city water supply.

Sewerage system

Initially the sewerage system of Riga was formed as a united system for draining both waste and rain water. Only after World War II the systems were separated. Initially all sewage was discharged into natural reservoirs adjacent to the territory of Riga or within it. In the post - war period some simple treatment plants were built. However, even in the mid 1980’s only 7.1% of sewage was treated biologically and 22.4% mechanically. At present, about 80% of the total sewage amount is biologically treated, due to the implementation of a large scale programme providing for the installing of a pressure collector system, building large pumping stations and a biological wastewater treatment plant.

The goal of the programme is to achieve biological treatment of all household and industrial wastewater by the year 2001. All city wastewater will be collected in the treatment plant 'Daugavgrivagriva'. It will be treated and discharged into Riga Bay 3 km off the coast line. The Treatment plant 'Daugavgriva' was put into operation in 1991. The initial designed productivity of the plant was 350,000 m3 per day. At present 190-230,000m3 are treated biologically. After modernisation the designed productivity of the plant will be 450,000 m3 per day.

Riga Water and Environment Project

The discharge of untreated wastewater from Riga City into national reservoirs and the further spreading of pollution into the Baltic Sea is a concern for Latvia as well as for other countries around the Baltic Sea. International co-operation provides a possibility for developing solutions to this problem. At present radical improvements of the Riga water supply and sewerage has started with the assistance and support from the Baltic Sea countries.

At present the most important task of 'Riga Water' is implementation of the internationally financed Riga Water and Environment Project. The project is financially supported by government agencies of Latvia, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland, and the municipalities of Riga and Stockholm. Participants from the Latvian side are the Ministry of Environment and Regional Development, Riga City Council and 'Riga Water' which in recent years has established close cooperation with a related enterprise in Stockholm, 'Stockholm Vatten'.

The main goals of Riga Water and Environment Project are to establish a safe and high quality water supply in Riga, treat all wastewater according to modern requirements and transform 'Riga Water' into a modern enterprise. The project is divided into two stages in the state investment programme: short term programme (1996-2001) and long term programme (1996-2010). The total financing for the short term programme is approximately 100 million USD.

International activities, such as active participation in the co-operation group of water and sewerage enterprises of capitals of Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as co-operation with other foreign companies, have strengthened the authority of 'Riga Water'. The company is sure that today it is considered a reliable finance and business partner.