According to ANM, June 2025 was Romania's driest June on record: 18.9 mm against a 90.5 mm average. Summer 2025 was the fourth driest.
Romania's Water Law allows free use of groundwater for watering and household needs if the flow does not exceed 0.2 litres per second (Art. 9(2)).
Price approved by ANRSC, excluding VAT, in force on 1 October 2026. Sewerage is charged separately at 8.85 lei/m³. Check which operator is on your bill.
A garden in a dry summer: the short answer
Summers around Bucharest are getting hotter and drier. According to Romania's National Meteorological Administration (ANM), 2025 was the fourth warmest year since 1901. Summer 2025 was the fourth driest nationally, and June 2025 was the driest June on record: 18.9 mm of rain against an average of 90.5 mm.
If you own a villa and spend only part of the year there, that means three decisions: what to plant, how to water, and where the water comes from. A large lawn watered by sprinklers from the mains is the most expensive option, and the first to die when nobody is home. A garden of tough plants, drip irrigation on a timer and, where possible, a well in the garden costs far less.
Romania's Water Law (Law 107/1996) lets you use groundwater on your own land freely for watering and other household needs, provided the flow does not exceed 0.2 litres per second. Above that you need a water management permit.
In plain words: plants that take the heat, drip to the roots on a timer, and check the pump's flow rate before you drill.
What the data says about Ilfov's climate
| Indicator | What ANM data shows |
|---|---|
| Year 2025 | Fourth warmest since 1901. National mean annual temperature 11.95 °C, 1.22 °C above the 1991–2020 average |
| Summer 2025 | Fourth driest summer nationally |
| June 2025 | Driest June on record: 18.9 mm against a 90.5 mm average |
| Bucharest, last 30 years | Warming of 0.49 °C compared with 1981–2010 |
| July, Romanian Plain | Long-term mean (1961–2024) above 22 °C |
| Heat record at Bucharest-Băneasa | 42.2 °C, on 5 July 2000 |
Ilfov lies on the Romanian Plain, with hot summers and long spells without rain. The seasons are covered in our Bucharest weather guide.
Plants: what survives without daily watering
There is no perfect list, but a few rules work on the Romanian Plain:
- Less lawn, more beds. Lawn is the thirstiest surface in the garden. Keep it only where you actually sit or play. Elsewhere: gravel, mulch, perennials and shrubs.
- Mediterranean and steppe plants: lavender, sage, thyme, silver-leaved plants and ornamental grasses. Many cope well with heat and drought once established. Check frost hardiness too, because Ilfov winters can be harsh.
- Shade trees on the south and west sides of the house. Within a few years they cool the terrace and cut the water needs of the garden beneath them.
- A thick layer of mulch around plants: it keeps moisture in the soil and limits weeds.
- Plant in autumn. Plants put in during October or November have a whole winter and spring to root before the first heatwave.
Ask a local nursery for advice. They know what has survived recent summers in the local soil.
Irrigation: drip, sprinklers or a hose
| System | Where it fits | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip | Beds, shrubs, hedges, vegetables | Water goes straight to the roots, little evaporation loss | Lines need checking and draining before frost |
| Sprinklers | Lawn | Even coverage of large areas | High losses to evaporation and wind, especially by day |
| Hand hose | Small gardens | Cheap and simple | Needs time and someone present, uneven watering |
If you live abroad part of the year, hand watering is not an option. A few rules:
- A timer with a rain or moisture sensor, so the system does not water after a summer storm.
- Remote control of the timer, so you can change the schedule in a heatwave without flying in.
- Water early in the morning or late in the evening, not at midday.
- Water deeply and rarely, not little and often. Roots follow the water down and plants become tougher.
- Drain before winter: before the first frost, empty the system and shut the outside tap. A frozen pipe can crack.
- Someone who checks. A gardening firm or a neighbour who looks in every couple of weeks in summer to spot a blocked dripper or a split line.
A well in the garden: what the Water Law says
Many villas in Ilfov use a borehole for watering. Law 107/1996, in the consolidated form we checked, provides:
- Art. 9(2): surface water and groundwater may be used freely, in compliance with sanitary and water quality rules, for drinking, watering, washing and other household needs, if no installations are used or if the flow drawn does not exceed 0.2 litres per second, exclusively for the needs of your own household. The current wording comes from a 2023 amendment.
- Art. 3(4): the landowner may use groundwater only to the extent it is used under Art. 9(2).
- Art. 9(1): otherwise, the right to use water is established by a water management permit (autorizație de gospodărire a apelor).
What that means in practice:
Plants that take the heat, drip to the roots on a timer, and check the pump's flow rate before you drill.
- 0.2 litres per second is 720 litres per hour. Many submersible pumps deliver more. Check the pump's data sheet before you buy it.
- For your own household only. You may not sell water or supply other houses.
- Well water is not automatically drinking water. If you want to drink it, have it tested by a laboratory. For watering, that is not needed.
- The drilling itself: we did not find a rule in the new Planning and Construction Code (Law 169/2026) that deals with a household borehole. Ask the town hall whether a planning certificate is needed, and ask the drilling firm which documents it handles.
- In a gated community, the rules may ban or limit boreholes. Read them first.
What mains water costs
These are the prices approved by the utilities regulator (ANRSC), in force on 1 October 2026, excluding VAT:
| Operator | Water, lei/m³ | Sewerage, lei/m³ | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apă-Canal Ilfov S.A. | 8.25 | 8.85 | 1 June 2025 |
| Euro Apavol S.A., Voluntari | 8.87 | 7.64 | 1 July 2026 |
Check your bill to see which operator you have. Not every locality in Ilfov is served by the same company.
A worked example: a 100 m² lawn receiving 25 litres per square metre a week (about 25 mm) uses 2.5 m³ a week, or roughly 30 m³ over a 12-week summer. At 8.25 lei/m³, the water alone would cost about 248 lei, excluding VAT. If sewerage is billed on all consumption, the total nearly doubles. Ask the operator whether a separate meter for irrigation is possible and how sewerage is billed.
All the yearly costs of a villa, including water and the garden, are in our upkeep costs guide. For water and sewer connections in Ilfov, see our utilities guide.
Rainwater: the free reserve
A tank connected to the downpipes collects roof water for dry days:
- Keep the tank in the shade and covered, so it does not warm up or grow algae.
- Use the water for the garden only, not for drinking.
- Empty or protect it in winter, so it does not crack in a frost.
- Connect it to drip irrigation, which works at low pressure.
Under Art. 299 of Law 169/2026, landscaping a front garden outside protected built-up areas needs no permit formality at all. On pools, pergolas and other garden works, see our guide to works without a permit.
Frequently asked questions
May I drill a well in the garden for watering?
The Water Law allows free use of groundwater for your own household's needs, including watering, if the flow does not exceed 0.2 litres per second (Art. 9(2)). Above that, a permit is needed. Before drilling, ask the town hall and check the community rules.
How much is 0.2 litres per second?
720 litres per hour, or 17.28 m³ a day. That is enough for a family garden, but many pumps deliver more. Choose the pump to fit the threshold.
How much does it cost to water a lawn from the mains?
With Apă-Canal Ilfov, water costs 8.25 lei/m³ excluding VAT and sewerage 8.85 lei/m³. A 100 m² lawn can use about 30 m³ in a summer, so roughly 248 lei for the water alone, more if sewerage is also billed.
Which plants tolerate drought in Ilfov?
Mediterranean and steppe plants such as lavender, sage and thyme, ornamental grasses, and shrubs adapted to heat. Plant in autumn, use mulch and ask a local nursery.
How do we keep the garden alive while we are abroad?
Drip irrigation on a timer with a rain sensor, remote control, and someone local who looks in from time to time. A garden with less lawn and more tough plants forgives a week without attention.
The bottom line
A garden in Ilfov should be planned for a June without rain, not for April. Less lawn, plants that take the heat, drip on a timer and, where possible, a well within the law.
If you are looking at a villa near Bucharest, with us or anywhere else, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the garden, the utilities and the running costs together.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Romanian Environment Ministry: ANM analysis, 2025 the fourth warmest year · ANM: multiannual climate profile, July 1961–2024 · Water Law 107/1996, consolidated form (legislatie.just.ro, web.archive.org copy), Art. 3 and 9 · ANRSC: approved prices and tariffs for regional operators, 1 October 2026 (PDF) · Law 169/2026, Official Gazette no. 661 of 10.08.2026 (PDF), Art. 299
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The rules are correct as of 22 October 2026. Water tariffs change from time to time, and borehole rules may carry local requirements. Check your bill, the town hall and the Apele Române water authority before any works.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
