Finland is home to 168,000 lakes and ponds, 21,000 kilometers of rivers, and a long coastline, as well as countless swamps, streams, and wetlands. These waters have always been an essential part of our nature, culture, and way of life – after all, water is essential to life.
Kuvavuorinen
Even today, beyond serving as habitats for many species, our waterways offer many opportunities for recreation, well-being, and livelihoods. But have we perhaps grown so accustomed to having water around us that we sometimes forget its true value?
In Finland, our waters have been and largely still are clean. We are used to having fresh tap water available whenever we need it. Wastewater treatment has worked well, thanks to decades of development and investment. However, maintaining this standard in the future will require new ideas and innovations. Climate change, for instance, is expected to impact the state of our waters. According to the Finnish Freshwater Foundation, it is likely to affect fell-region water bodies and nutrient-poor, clear-water lakes most significantly. In addition to climate change, challenges are also posed by increasing amounts of microplastics and other substances that do not belong in nature.
In a changing world, it's important to rethink how we handle industrial wastewater – by finding new methods or improving existing ones. Combining expertise from different fields can be especially effective here.
Digipolis in Kemi is participating in the ProWater project, which started at the turn of the year. The project aims to explore how industrial side streams could be used as part of wastewater treatment. In line with circular economy thinking, the goal is to find ways to turn side streams into valuable resources – creating benefits from multiple perspectives. The project is led by the University of Oulu, in collaboration with Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Digipolis. More information can be found on the project’s website.
It’s important to remember that water knows no borders — not between municipalities or between nations. Here in Lapland, we have great examples of this, such as the Tornio River, Teno River, and Paatsjoki River. We want to keep our waters clean far into the future. That’s why we need research, collaboration, and new solutions. Water connects us all in many ways – protecting it is a shared responsibility.