May I drill a well and pump groundwater on my own plot?
You may drill a borehole, but the groundwater is not your property even though the borehole is on your land — using it requires a water permit. Under the Waters Act (ZV-1), water is a public good and a natural resource, so using water from your own borehole or well (for self-supply, watering or a pool) generally requires a water permit issued by the competent body, i.e. the Slovenian Water Directorate. Anyone who wants to pump groundwater by drilling must first obtain a permit for groundwater research before the works. Self-supply with drinking water in areas without a public water supply is subject to a special regime. The myth that the water under your land is automatically yours and free to pump does not hold — using it without a permit is an offence. For an individual the fine is EUR 400 to 1,200, and it is much higher for a sole trader or a company.
📋 The rules
- Under ZV-1 water is a public good and a natural resource; owning the land does not automatically entitle you to use the groundwater beneath it.
- Using water from a borehole or well generally requires a water permit issued by the competent body (the Slovenian Water Directorate); special use of water must be granted or recorded.
- Anyone intending to pump groundwater by drilling must obtain a permit for groundwater research before starting the works, and only then a water permit for the use.
- Self-supply with drinking water in areas without a public water supply is subject to a special regime; the use must be recorded or permitted.
- Using water without a permit or outside its conditions is an offence; an individual faces a fine of EUR 400 to 1,200, a sole trader more, and a company up to tens of thousands of euros.
🔓 Exceptions
- Direct use of rainwater (e.g. collecting roof runoff in a tank for watering) generally needs no water permit, as it is not an intervention in a water source.
- Water use that qualifies as general use (e.g. limited abstraction for your own household needs under the conditions of the Act) is subject to lighter rules than special use with a borehole.
- In water-protection areas the conditions are stricter; drilling and pumping may be further restricted or prohibited to protect the drinking-water source.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Using water from a borehole without the proper permit is an offence under the Waters Act. For an individual the prescribed fine is EUR 400 to 1,200, for a sole trader EUR 2,000 to 4,000, and for a company the fine ranges from EUR 4,000 to 125,000. On top of the fine, the inspectorate (the Inspectorate for the Environment and Spatial Planning, or the water inspection) can order use to cease and pumping to stop, and in the last resort the sealing or remediation of the borehole at your expense. An unauthorised intervention in groundwater can endanger the neighbours' water source and the public supply, opening up further liability for damage. An unregulated borehole without a permit is also a problem when selling the property and when connecting to infrastructure. If drilling damages a neighbour's well or lowers the water level, you also risk a civil damages claim. For some uses a water charge is also payable.
📎 Official sources
- PISRS · register of legislation (Waters Act, ZV-1) →
- gov.si · Slovenian Water Directorate (water permits) →
- e-uprava · recording special use of water →
❓ Frequently asked
Is the groundwater under my plot mine?
No, under the Waters Act water is a public good and a natural resource, regardless of who owns the land above it. To use water from your own borehole or well you therefore generally need a water permit from the competent body.
What permit do I need for a borehole?
To pump groundwater you must first obtain a permit for groundwater research before drilling, and then a water permit for the use of the water. The application is handled by the Slovenian Water Directorate, and special use of water must be recorded.
What is the fine if I pump water without a permit?
For an individual the fine is EUR 400 to 1,200, and for a sole trader EUR 2,000 to 4,000. For a company the fine ranges from EUR 4,000 to 125,000, and the inspectorate can additionally order pumping to stop.
May I collect rainwater without a permit?
Collecting roof rainwater in a tank for watering generally needs no water permit, as it is not an intervention in a water source. Pumping groundwater or surface water with a borehole or pump does, however, require a permit.
May I use the borehole for drinking water?
Self-supply with drinking water in areas without a public supply is subject to a special regime that must be arranged and recorded. The water must also be safe to drink, and in water-protection areas drilling and use are further restricted or prohibited.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “water borehole permit slovenia”
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