DESIGN

Water well and geothermal system design

A properly prepared design helps ensure that a water well or geothermal heating system meets the technical conditions and intended use of the specific property. MELKERLITA helps assess the initial information, prepare technical solutions and determine which documents and approval procedures are required before installation begins.

Request a consultation

Design services

What do we design?

MELKERLITA design services cover groundwater use, water wells and geothermal systems. Technical solutions for each property are prepared according to its purpose, requirements and available initial information.

Water well design

The intended use, planned water demand, site and available hydrogeological data are assessed during water well design. The required technical solutions are prepared according to the conditions of the specific property.

Geothermal system design

The building heat demand, site conditions and selected heat source are assessed when designing a geothermal system. These determine the technical parameters of vertical boreholes, a horizontal collector or another system.

Which documents are required to design a water well or geothermal system?

The required documents depend on the planned well or geothermal system type, property location, land ownership and applicable legal requirements. Separate design rules apply to groundwater abstraction wells and geothermal boreholes in Lithuania.

Groundwater abstraction well design

Under the procedure approved by Lithuanian Environment Minister Order No. 417, a groundwater abstraction well design is prepared for newly designed abstraction wells, including exploratory wells. The precise project content is determined under the current procedure, not solely by this indicative list.

Property address and land parcel cadastral number.
Intended purpose of water use.
Planned water demand and well yield.
Well location and technical data.
Conclusion of the municipal executive authority under the applicable procedure.
Consent of the landowner or trustee when required by law.
Other information and documents required by the current procedure.

Geothermal borehole design

Order No. D1-273 applies to all geothermal energy boreholes regardless of installed capacity. Designs for systems above 50 kW nominal capacity or boreholes planned in groundwater protection zones are coordinated with the Lithuanian Geological Survey under paragraph 14.2. Other approvals may also be required because of construction or special land-use conditions. Where abstracted groundwater is used for geothermal energy, the relevant groundwater well rules apply.

Building heat demand.
Number and layout of geothermal boreholes.
Borehole construction and geological conditions.
Required geothermal heat-exchanger length.
Technical specifications and installation conditions.
Mandatory approvals according to the specific situation.

Current version of Order No. 417 Current version of Order No. D1-273 Register of the Earth’s Interior

Next steps

What happens after the design is prepared?

Once the design is complete, the required approvals are obtained and registration procedures apply after the well has been installed. A groundwater abstraction well must be registered in the Register of the Earth’s Interior and have a well passport before it is used.

A separate registration and system passport procedure applies to geothermal borehole systems.

Well design, installation, registration and a permit to use groundwater resources are separate procedures. Whether a permit is required depends on the purpose and amount of water use and other circumstances defined by law.

Benefits of design

Why is proper design important?

Properly prepared technical solutions make it possible to assess site conditions in advance, coordinate different system elements and define the expected scope of work more clearly. This helps reduce the risk of technical inconsistencies and unforeseen changes during installation.

Evidence-based solutions

Technical solutions are prepared from property data and planned requirements.

Clear scope of work

Design identifies the required work, equipment and principal technical parameters.

Coordinated systems

The compatibility of the water well or geothermal collector with other engineering-system elements is assessed.

How we work

Brief and document collection

We discuss the requirements, purpose of the property and available documents.

Initial conditions analysis

We assess the technical, geological or hydrogeological conditions according to the project type.

Technical solution preparation

We prepare technical solutions appropriate to the scope of the design.

Design delivery and explanation

We deliver the documentation and explain the proposed solutions.

What determines the cost of design work?

Design cost depends on the complexity of the property, required initial information and investigations, scope of technical solutions and approval procedures. The exact cost and schedule are determined after assessing the requirements of the specific project.

Project type and scope.
Property location and technical conditions.
Available initial documents.
Need for additional investigations.
Required approval procedures.

Request an individual proposal

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

New groundwater abstraction wells are designed under the current procedure established by Order No. 417. A separate procedure applies to the legalisation of existing unregistered wells.

Yes. The geothermal energy borehole design rules apply regardless of installed capacity. Approval requirements depend on system capacity, location and other conditions.

The well design process includes a conclusion from the municipal executive authority. The specific steps and documents must be determined under the current procedure and the circumstances of the property.

In some cases, yes—for example, when the well is planned on land owned by another person or the first belt of its protection zone extends onto land owned by others.

Yes. A groundwater abstraction well must be registered in the Register of the Earth’s Interior and have a well passport.

No. A well design defines the technical solution. A permit to use groundwater resources is a separate procedure, and whether it is required depends on the purpose and amount of water use and other circumstances defined by law.

The option and scope of standalone design work should be agreed individually with MELKERLITA.

MELKERLITA operates throughout Lithuania. The design options and scope for a particular property are assessed according to its location and technical conditions.

Water well and geothermal system design