Studnia na działce ROD – prawo, przepisy i dobór pompy

Well on the ROD plot – law, regulations and pump selection

Droughts, which occurred sporadically a decade ago, now return every season. ROD water supply networks were not designed for peak heat loads - and it shows. Access to your own water is not a luxury or preference, but often the basis for running a garden. Therefore, more and more gardeners are considering installing their own well - the problem arises when it is not known: whether it is allowed to dig such a well, whether it needs to be reported, how much water can be taken and - finally - which pump to choose so that it works seasonally, efficiently and without any problems. In this article, we answer these questions step by step, from the perspective of a water pump manufacturer.

As a manufacturer of water pumps, we talk every day to installers and users who are looking for solutions for their own water intakes. Allotment gardeners are a special group: their needs are seasonal, their wells are usually shallow, and their budget for equipment is moderate. That is why we have gathered in one place everything you need to know about the legal use of wells in allotment gardens and about choosing a pump that will reliably supply water to the garden for years.

Note: The following article is for informational and illustrative purposes. It does not constitute legal or administrative advice. The rules for installing wells may vary depending on ROD regulations, location and other factors not included in the article. We always recommend consulting the ROD management board, geological works designers or the appropriate Polish Waters unit.

A well on a ROD plot – is it allowed to have it at all?

This question is asked very often among allotment gardeners, especially those who have no experience with living on allotments yet. The answer is short: yes, a well on the ROD plot is allowed – but provided that it meets the formal and technical requirements arising from national regulations and the ROD regulations.

The legal basis is the Water Law Act of July 20, 2017. It specifies two key thresholds that determine whether a well requires formal consent:

Well depth over 30 meters – a drilling deeper than 30 m requires obtaining a water permit. In a typical ROD recreational plot, the ring well most often reaches 5–12 m, so in practice this threshold rarely applies to allotment gardeners.
Daily water consumption exceeds 5 m³ – regardless of the depth of the well, if you withdraw more than 5 m³ of water per day (i.e. 5,000 liters), a water law notification or water permit is required. For a single recreational plot, even intensive watering of the vegetable garden rarely exceeds this amount.

A well shallower than 30 meters, from which you draw less than 5 m³ of water per day, falls within the definition of the so-called normal use of water and does not require either a permit or a water law notification to Polish Waters. Most wells in allotment gardens in Poland fall within this range.

Note: even if your well does not require a water permit, formal obligations may arise from ROD Regulations and decisions of the garden management. Before digging a well on the plot, always check whether the statute and regulations of a given garden allow for its own water intakes, whether the ROD area has a water supply network (a plot with a water supply network may have its own rules on the use of individual water intakes) and whether the consent of the garden management board is necessary to drill a well. The Allotment Gardeners' Association and individual garden management boards have statutory rights in this matter, which cannot be ignored.

What distances must a well maintain on a recreational plot?

Even if a well does not require a water permit, it must meet minimum sanitary distances. This is an absolute requirement - regardless of whether it is a family allotment garden or other private property.

5 meters from the plot border – this distance protects groundwater from contamination from the neighboring property and is a sanitary requirement that protects both sides of the fence. In some cases of allotment gardens, after obtaining appropriate consent from the neighbor, this distance can be shortened.
15 meters from waste tanks – applies to septic tanks, septic tanks, composters and sewage systems. In allotment garden areas, where there are often shared or individual septic tanks, this distance is particularly important.
7.5 meters from the axis of the roadside ditch – drainage ditches and roadside ditches are potential routes for the runoff of surface pollutants. The well must maintain a safe distance from the axis of such a ditch.

In practice, on a typical recreational plot of 300–500 m², finding a place that meets all three conditions at the same time can be a challenge. Before you start digging, it is worth preparing a work plan under the supervision of an authorized specialist - he will verify information such as the distance from protected areas or the Main Ground Water Reservoir (GZWP). Fulfilling all formal obligations may be a challenge, and entrusting this task to a dedicated well company saves time and protects against unintentional violations of the law.

A circular well in an allotment garden - what is worth knowing before buying a pump

One type of intake dominates in ROD areas: ring well, also called a dug well. It is a classic structure made of concrete rings with an internal diameter usually 80, 100 or 120 cm. The depth rarely exceeds 10–12 meters, and water resources come from the first, shallow aquifer.

Such a well has its own characteristics that directly affect the selection of the pump:

Seasonal fluctuations in water levels – the water table in the circles is highest in spring (after thaws and rains) and lowest in midsummer. It is in summer, when the irrigation of the vegetable plot, strawberry plot or fruit tree plot is the most intense, that the well has the least resources.
Wide housing – unlike a narrow deep well, a ring well has a large internal space. This means that a submersible pump (designed to work in a narrow pipe where water flows around and cools the engine) is not the best choice here without an additional casing pipe.
Risk of mechanical contamination – sand, mud and fine suspensions are more common than in deep wells. The pump must be properly prepared for this.

Before you decide on a specific pump model, measure or determine:

total depth of the well from the cover to the bottom of the circle,
static water table (measured after at least 2 hours without water consumption),
dynamic water level (with continuous pumping - crucial for protection against dry running),
water quality (is there sand, turbidity, sediment),
water demand - for watering a garden with flowers, a garden with vegetable plants or filling a pond is counted differently than for powering the house.

Which pump should I choose for a well on the ROD plot?

This is a question we hear very often in Dambat - especially in spring, when allotment gardeners return to their allotment gardens, and in summer, when the pressure in the ROD network drops and the management introduces watering restrictions. The answer depends on several factors, but in the vast majority of cases, two types of devices from our offer work best for a ring well on a recreational plot: submersible pump with float switch or surface pump.

submersible pump IBO – the most popular choice on the plot

submersible pump it works fully immersed in water, lowered into the well by a rope. Its greatest advantage in allotment conditions is built-in Float, which automatically turns off the device when the water level drops below a safe level and restarts it when the water is replenished. This is exactly the type of operation needed for a ring well with seasonally changing water levels.

Advantages of the submersible pump with float switch:

Dry-running protection without additional probes and controllers – Float is a simple and practical mechanical protection.
Simple installation and service – the pump is lowered on a rope, it does not require precise vertical positioning or a specialized protective pipe.
Low total installation cost – no additional equipment that would be necessary for a submersible pump installed in a dug well.
Adaptation to typical depths of plot wells – where the lifting height rarely exceeds 20–25 m, Submersible calmly enough.

In our IBO line you will find Submersible pumps for clean and slightly polluted water, with a 230 V power supply - which is standard in allotment gardens with access to electricity. If your plot has electricity Power supply single-phase, you don't need anything else to connect the pump. Models with our offer adapted to a ring well, they achieve hydraulic parameters that completely cover the needs of a typical recreational plot - either with vegetables and tomatoes, or with ornamental shrubs and orchard plantings.

Surface garden pump – when the well is shallow

If the water level in your well does not fall deeper than about 7-8 meters from the ground level, a surface pump is a particularly practical solution on your plot. It is installed above the well - in a house, gazebo or technical box - and, unlike a submersible pump, it does not need to be removed from the well before winter. Simply empty the suction pipe and place the device indoors.

Our IBO offer includes garden pumps for this purpose with a built-in ON/OFF switch and a carrying handle - which is of real importance on a plot where the pump often travels between the gazebo and the draw-off point. It is enough for most allotment gardens IBO GARDEN 1000 or IBO PJ 60/45 – they can easily handle sprinklers, hoses and pond refills at the same time. If the plot is larger or you want to power several irrigation sections at once, reach for it IBO JSW 150 GARDEN – a stronger alternative with higher performance and lifting capacity. Each of these models is also available in a set with accessories, which significantly simplifies starting the installation without hydraulic experience.

Hydrophore – is it necessary?

A hydrophore (diaphragm tank with pressure switch automation) is not strictly necessary for seasonal garden irrigation, where the pump operates for a short time and under constant supervision. However, if you are planning a more extensive installation - watering several zones, Power supply hose and sprinklers at the same time, or you want the pump to start automatically when you turn on the tap - the hydrophore significantly reduces the number of engine activation cycles, extending the life of the device.

For a typical installation on a ROD recreational plot, a small expansion tank of 8-24 liters with a pressostat is enough. Na our website you will find a number of tanks and vessels dedicated to work with IBO i pumps IPRO.

A submersible pump on the plot – when does it make sense?

The submersible pump is designed to work in a narrow borehole pipe, where the water flow cools the engine. In a wide ring well, installing a submersible pump without a casing pipe leads to overheating of the engine and shortened life of the device - up to several months instead of several years.

A submersible pump makes sense when:

the depth of the well exceeds 15-20 m,
the required water lifting height exceeds 30–40 m,
you need more flow than surface and submersible pumps can provide.

In such conditions, a submersible pump may be the right choice. In our assortment you will find a pump especially dedicated to this task 2" STING – with compact dimensions, with a built-in capacitor and protection against motor overheating. However, for a typical well dug in an allotment garden, we strongly recommend a submersible or surface pump. You can learn more about submersible pumps from our article Is a submersible pump suitable for a ring well?

Winterizing the pump on the plot - how not to damage the device before the season

Allotment gardeners - unlike users of home installations - use the pump seasonally. Poor winterization procedure can be a common cause behind breakdowns.

Basic rules for wintering the pump on a recreational plot:

Remove the submersible pump from the well before the first frost. Water frozen inside the pump may permanently damage the body and impeller.
Empty the water from the pump, dry it and store it at a temperature above 0°C - preferably in a room in a summer house or in an insulated box.
Disconnect and empty the suction and discharge lines. Water in the pipes and in the pump during frost can cause serious damage.
Check the condition of the mesh filter before the next season. A clogged filter may cause the engine to overheat and damage when restarted.

Mauser on the plot - rainwater as a second source of water

IBC tanks - popularly known as Mausers - are an increasingly common sight in allotment gardens. Gazebos or houses placed next to the gutter collect rainwater all year round, which is perfect for irrigating vegetables, shrubs and plantings. However, to use the collected water effectively, Mauser requires a pump - preferably submersible for clean or slightly polluted water.

For this application, we recommend pumps from the series IBO IP – compact, submersible, with built-in float switch and 230V power supply. You lower the pump directly into the tank, connect a hose or watering installation and you're done. Float automatically turns off the device when the water level in the Mauser drops too low - without the risk of running dry. For smaller plots, a model is enough IP 400 or IP 550, for larger surfaces it is worth using IP 750 or IP 900.

Mauser and the well can complement each other on the plot. Rainwater is suitable for daily watering for most of the season, while a well is a reserve for periods of drought - when the reservoir is empty and the demand for water is greatest. This connection relieves the intake precisely when the water level in the ring well is naturally the lowest.

If you have any doubts about the selection of the pump for yourself, please contact our technical department - details can be found at Dambat contact page.

Dambat – a trusted manufacturer of pumps and hydrotechnical equipment with quality certificates.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) – well and pump in the ROD allotment garden

Does a well on the ROD plot require notification to Polish Waters?

A ring well with a depth of up to 30 m, from which you draw no more than 5 m³ of water per day, falls within the scope of ordinary water use and does not require a permit or water law notification. Typical wells in allotment gardens meet both conditions. Remember, however, that the ROD regulations and the decision of the garden management may impose their own requirements - check this before drilling the well.

What minimum distances must a well maintain on a recreational plot?

Sanitary regulations require maintaining at least 5 m from the plot boundary, 15 m from waste tanks (septic tanks, composters) and 7.5 m from the axis of a roadside ditch. These distances apply regardless of the depth of the well and cannot be reduced without obtaining an individual deviation, which is very difficult in practice.

Which pump is best for a ring well in an allotment garden?

In the vast majority of cases, it is the best choice submersible pump with float switch – easy to install, with built-in protection against dry running and adapted to the seasonal operating mode typical of allotment gardens. For very shallow wells (the water table is always higher than 7–8 m from the ground), a good alternative is a surface pump, which is easier to store for the winter.

Is Mauser better than well?

Neither one nor the other - the Mauser and the well work best as two complementary sources of water. For most of the season, rainwater from the Mauser is sufficient for watering and does not burden the well. The well remains a reserve for periods when the Mauser is already empty. By tapping rainwater first, you save well resources for the summer drought - when groundwater is at its lowest and each liter has greater value.

Is the IBO submersible pump suitable for a ring well on the plot?

The submersible pump is designed to operate in a narrow borehole, where the water flow cools the engine. In a ring well without a casing, the submersible motor overheats and fails prematurely. For a typical well dug on a ROD recreational plot, we recommend a submersible or surface pump. The IBO submersible pump is used in a ring well only with a properly selected and installed casing pipe.

Where can you buy IBO i pumps IPRO to the well on the ROD plot?

As a manufacturer, we do not sell directly to end customers. IBO pumps i IPRO are available from our authorized sales partners, installation and sanitary wholesalers and online distributors throughout Poland. The list of partners and the full product catalog can be found on the website dambat.pl.