Ķekava is the municipal centre: the municipality based here keeps the register of decentralised systems for the whole municipality, and on this page we describe the municipal rules in full. Septic tank pumping costs from €75, BIO plant maintenance from €160.
Ķekava: where town meets countryside by the Via Baltica
Ķekava is a southern suburb of Riga with detached-house districts, newer residential developments and commercial buildings along the main roads. The town shades into rural areas and the municipality's villages, and for many houses in this belt the wastewater is collected by their own system: a septic tank, a holding tank or a BIO plant.
Near the Ķekava river and the Daugava and in lower-lying places, groundwater can be high. In the transition belt between town and countryside, where new houses are being built, the soil varies from sand to clay, and that decides whether treated water will soak away at all. So before we quote for a septic tank or a drain field, we establish the soil and the groundwater level on the specific plot.
The A7 and the new Ķekava bypass link the town with Riga quickly, but at rush hour and during roadworks the journey can take longer, so we agree the pumping time in advance. Ķekava is close to Riga, so the travel surcharge (~€1/km for the road beyond the city boundary) is small.
Which system suits a house in Ķekava and what the municipality requires
| System | When it suits | What the municipal rules require |
|---|---|---|
| Septic tank with a drain field | Sandy soil, low groundwater | Sludge removed at least once a year |
| BIO plant | Clay, high groundwater, outlet to a ditch | Sludge according to the manufacturer's instructions; maintenance certificate by 1 June |
| Holding tank | No room for infiltration, light use | Frequency based on consumption; without a meter, 1.5 m³ per person per month |
A septic tank with the tank and installation starts from €2,200, a BIO plant for 4–6 people from €1,750, and its installation from €800. How to choose: septic tank or BIO plant; a comparison of the most common plants: BIO plant comparison.
Ķekava Municipality rules step by step
- Register the system. The register is kept by Ķekava Municipality, and questions are handled by the Property Department. The registration declaration (Annex 3 to Binding Regulations No. 20/2022, in .docx format on kekava.lv) can be sent with an e-signature or as a scan, submitted at the customer centre in Ķekava, Gaismas iela 19 k-9-1, or sent by post. There is no longer a deadline; the municipality continues to accept registrations.
- Pump out on time. A septic tank at least once a year. For a holding tank, the frequency is calculated from water consumption and volume; without a meter, 1.5 m³ per person per month is assumed.
- For a BIO plant: maintenance and a certificate. Sludge is removed according to the manufacturer's instructions or a company's written opinion. By 1 June each year, a company's written certificate on the maintenance and the condition of the plant is submitted to the municipality.
- Choose a registered pumping contractor. The service may be provided only by a pumping contractor registered with the municipality that is entitled to carry goods, has no tax debts over €150 and has a contract with the water utility for accepting wastewater. The list on kekava.lv (updated 17.04.2024) has 13 companies.
- Keep the documents and report changes. The contract or receipt showing the address, volume, date and service provider is shown on request; Cabinet Regulation No. 384 requires it to be kept for two years. Changes to the system are reported within a month.
The municipality can require access to the system, additional maintenance and a wastewater sample. If prohibited substances are found in the sample, the owner pays the costs. The penalty for a private individual is a warning or a fine of up to 70 penalty units, and for a legal entity up to 280.
Since November 2022 these rules have been the same for the whole municipality, replacing the earlier Ķekava and Baldone municipal rules, so they also apply to Baloži and Baldone.
Sources: Ķekava Municipality Binding Regulations No. 20/2022 (points 5–10, 12, 15, 18, 31–33, 37), likumi.lv and Latvijas Vēstnesis; registration, kekava.lv; register of pumping contractors, kekava.lv. Checked 30 October 2026.
Co-financing for a connection in Ķekava Municipality
If there is a mains sewer or water main in the street, Binding Regulations No. 14/2023 (amended by Binding Regulations No. 3/2026, in force from 06.03.2026) let you receive support for connecting a residential house. It covers up to 100% of the cost: for a detached or semi-detached house no more than €2,500, once per property, and €5,000 if at least two more properties can use the connection or the building has three or more flats.
You cannot apply all year round, only within 60 days of the municipality's announcement. The amount of support depends on the annual budget, and certain groups of residents have priority. On 30 October 2026, no open round had been announced on kekava.lv.
We build the connection pipe (from €25/m) and the inspection chambers in line with the water utility's technical conditions; in Ķekava and Baldone that is SIA “Ķekavas nami”. The estimate, invoices and as-built survey are needed for the application, so keep them. After connection, we pump out the old septic tank and prepare it for decommissioning. More: connecting to the mains sewer.
Septic tank pumping and BIO plant maintenance in Ķekava
Septic tank pumping in Ķekava costs from €75 for up to 4 m³, and for a large holding tank of up to 10 m³ from €110. After pumping you receive a certificate with the address, date and volume, which the municipality may ask to see.
BIO plants in Ķekava Municipality have a fixed date: 1 June. If you schedule BIO plant maintenance (from €160) for April or May, the document will be ready in time, and after the winter you can see straight away whether the compressor and aeration are working. After maintenance we issue a document with our findings and recommendations. For specific plants: AUGUST AT-6 maintenance and PURA maintenance.
Around Ķekava
In the same municipality are Baloži and Baldone. On the Riga side are Katlakalns and Riga, and to the south along the A7 is Iecava. All places: where we work.