Co-operation to improve water quality measurement

The systems used to measure the quality and quantity of the water in Finland’s inland waterways will be improved through the co-operation between Vaisala Oyj, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and the Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre. The objective of this co-operation is to develop measuring systems that will provide more accurate information on the leaching of nutrients into the waterways. It is expected that considerable sums of money will be saved with the automation of these measurements. The first stage of the project will last two years. The pilot stations will be located in Uusimaa, an area surrounding Helsinki.

Vaisala, SYKE and the Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre have signed a co-operation agreement to develop solutions for improved water protection and water research. The aim is to develop measurement instruments and measuring systems that will provide more accurate information on the leaching of nutrients into surface waterways. The instruments are also designed to determine what actions will best reduce the nutrient load in these waterways. 

The measurement instruments and solutions will also be applied to hydrological monitoring and its development. The target is to create a system by which sensors will provide users with topical information over a GSM network. The results of the project will be utilized in both national and international environmental monitoring and research.

The co-operation between Vaisala, SYKE and the Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre combines the expertise of the environmental administration authorities and the private sector. Vaisala will manufacture and develop the measuring systems. SYKE will provide expert assistance by analyzing and evaluating the material, while the Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre will maintain the measurement stations and take samples. The three test stations involved in the project are located in Southern Finland.

Eutrophication is the biggest problem in Finnish waterways. The nutrients released into them cause point and non-point pollution. Typical point sources of nutrients include industrial and municipal wastewater and fish farming. Non-point sources of nutrients include agriculture and forestry and wastewater in rural areas. Over half of the nutrients entering the waterways due to human action are from agriculture. Hydrological conditions affect the leaching and transportation of these nutrients.

For more information, please contact:

Vaisala Oyj
Mika Aaltonen, Business Unit Manager, Vaisala Hydromet
tel. +358 9 8949 2627, gsm +358 40 570 5591

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
Seppo Rekolainen, Programme Manager, tel. +358 9 4030 0364 and +358 40 580 6538
Markku Puupponen, Division Manager, tel. +358 9 4030 0555 and +358 40 7432 184
Kirsi Norros, Chief of Press and Information Office, tel. +358 9 4030 0770 and +358 40 7401 693

Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre (UREC)
Leena Villa, Senior Adviser, tel. +358 20 490 3165 and +358 40 535 9746
Antti Ellonen, Information Officer, tel. +358 20 490 3012 and  +35 40 725 4854