Septic tanks, pumping and sewerage in Ķīpsala - a low island in the Daugava with wooden houses and an exhibition centre

Ķīpsala: a low island opposite the centre

Ķīpsala is an island in the Daugava opposite the city centre. It is reached via the Vanšu Bridge and Ķīpsalas iela, so access is quick, but traffic is concentrated at a few points. The buildings include historic wooden houses, detached houses, new apartment developments, university and exhibition complexes, offices and hospitality.

The Daugava bank, the low-lying areas and the wind are important environmental factors. For sewerage this means that in the lowest spots and in basements you have to think not only about pipes but also about pumping and protection against backflow.

Basements, backflow and the non-return valve

If a basement or ground floor has a sink or toilet lower than the street manhole, in heavy rain, when the city network is overloaded, wastewater can flow back into the building. To prevent this, a non-return valve is fitted on the outlet pipe or a lifting unit is installed that raises the wastewater above the backflow level.

For a whole building or a group of buildings, we install an underground sewage pump station in Ķīpsala with tank reserve capacity and an alarm, priced from €1,650. A non-return valve needs attention too: if dirt gets stuck in it, it does not close, and the protection does not work.

It is worth checking the non-return valve and the station before the autumn rains, not after the first flooding. If the building has several outlet pipes, protect each one that lies lower than the street manhole.

Looking after a pump station

• Alarm: check that the signal can be heard or seen inside the house, not just at the station.
• Contents: the station tank is pumped out and flushed when sludge and fat have built up in it.
• Floats: they are cleaned so that the pump switches on and off at the right time.
• Use: wet wipes and hygiene products must not go down the drain, because they wrap around the impeller.

If the pump has already stopped, we first pump out the tank so the pump can be reached, and then decide on the repair: sewage pump repair.

Exhibitions, events and hospitality

During exhibitions and events, a lot of people gather in one place on the island. If portable toilets are set up outdoors, we pump them out between event days or afterwards, agreeing the time with the organiser: portable toilet pumping.

For restaurants, cafés and event catering, the grease separator fills up faster than usual after busy days. If an event lasts several days, it is worth checking the separator while it is still running, not only at the end. Cleaning from €90: grease trap cleaning.

New apartment developments and offices

New buildings with underground car parks often have floor drains, drainage pumps and pump sumps in which sand and sediment from car wheels build up over time. We pump them out and clean them, so that the pumps do not run dry or overloaded.

For ground-floor restaurants and cafés in the new buildings, the grease separator is often in the basement or a plant room. In your request, tell us where it is and how long the route from the street to it is, because the hose has to go through the building.

Wooden houses and detached houses

If a historic wooden house or a detached house is connected to the city network, its yard pipe and manholes up to the control manhole at the street are the owner's responsibility. If a yard manhole overflows or water drains slowly, we pump it out and inspect it, and if needed we replace the sewer manhole or a section of pipe; installation from €25/m.

If a house still has a septic tank or holding tank, Riga's rules on decentralised sewage systems apply to it: an entry in the department's register, pumping at least once a year for a septic tank, and for a holding tank according to water consumption. If there is a sewer main in the street, the municipality grants €1,000–2,000 for connecting a residential house, depending on the length of the connection pipe.

Getting onto the island

During exhibitions or lectures, traffic at the Vanšu Bridge and on the island's streets can be heavy, and the streets in the historic part are narrow. There we use a smaller tanker. In your request, tell us whether the work has to be done during an event or after it, and where a lorry can stop.

If the pump station or manhole is in an inner courtyard behind a barrier, tell us who will open it. Work on a station can take longer than ordinary pumping, because after emptying it we also check the floats and the non-return valve.

Riga's rules on low ground and neighbouring areas

Riga's rules prohibit discharging fats and food waste into the network, and allow groundwater and surface water to be discharged only with the agreement of Rīgas ūdens (Riga's water utility). On low ground this matters: a drainage pump must not simply be connected to the foul sewer.

The nearest neighbourhoods in Pārdaugava are Āgenskalns, Klīversala and Dzirciems, and across the Daugava, the city centre. All places: where we work.