- As of 1 January 2023, the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is responsible for organising health and social services. The services can be found in the same locations as before.
- The telephone numbers and email addresses for the services will be changed gradually. During the transition period, information on health and social services is also available at espoo.fi.
- You can find up-to-date information on the website of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County at www.luvn.fi/en.(external link)
Domestic water, drinking water
We regularly monitor the quality of drinking water by carrying out inspections and taking water samples. The purpose of the monitoring is to ensure that drinking water complies with regulations and does not pose a health hazard. talousvesivalvonta@espoo.fi
- The wells in the region commonly contain fluoride, iron, manganese and radon.
- Fluoride: It is important that the fluoride content of drinking water used by infants and pregnant women does not exceed the health-based limit value of 1.5 mg/l. Water with a fluoride content exceeding 2 mg/l should not be used permanently as drinking water or for cooking. Harm can be reduced by replacing part of the drinking water with low-fluoride water.
- Iron: Iron is commonly found in wells in the region, and it can also be dissolved in water from the property’s own pipes and plumbing fixtures. Iron-rich water can leave rust deposits on plumbing fixtures, stains in laundry and a rusty taste in drinking water. The quality target concerning iron has been set on the basis of technical and aesthetic harm. Iron does not pose a health hazard at concentrations where it is still possible to drink the water based on its appearance and taste.
- Manganese: Well water that contains iron often also contains manganese. The maximum recommendations for manganese are based on aesthetic and technical harm. Excessive manganese causes an unpleasant taste in water, deposits on plumbing fixtures and staining of laundry. According to current data, high levels of manganese also pose a health hazard, especially for children.
- Radon: Well water may also contain radon. Radon is an odourless and tasteless gas that can spread into room air, for example, when taking a shower. Radon increases the risk of cancer, and the radon concentration of water in drilled wells in the region should be tested.
- More information on water treatment: ymparisto.fi(external link) (in Finnish)
- If your property is connected to the municipal water supply network, start by contacting the water supply plant.
- You should get your well water tested every three years, even if the water looks and tastes normal.
- It is particularly important to ensure the quality of well water:
- before starting to use a new well;
- if the odour, taste or colour of the water has changed;
- if you suspect that the water poses a health hazard.
- You should always get the water tested if its quality has changed in a short period of time from normal to abnormal. You should not drink water that has clearly changed. The condition of well structures should also be checked regularly.
- Well repairs and disinfection should be carried out by skilled professionals.
- High-quality drinking water has been tested, tastes good and is clear and colourless.
- The quality of drinking water is monitored, for example, by regularly testing water samples.
- If you have questions related to drinking water, you should first contact your water supplier.
- If you suspect that drinking water has made you ill, you should contact Espoo Region Environmental Health Services.
- You can find information on issues, such as water hardness and possible disruptions, on the websites of water supply plants.
- HSY Water Services(external link) supplies domestic water to the Espoo and Kauniainen water distribution areas. The Päijänne Tunnel leads raw water from Läke Päijänne to the Pitkäkoski and Vanhakaupunki water treatment plants, and from there, water is conveyed to the water supply network.
- The main water intake building of Kirkkonummen Vesi(external link) (in Finnish) is located in Myllykylä. The raw water comes from Lake Meiko. Additional water for the network is purchased from HSY and from the water supply plant of Suomen Sokeri Oy. Domestic water in Veikkola comes from two ground water intake buildings in the area as well as HSY.
- In addition, there are several smaller water supply plants and water cooperatives in Espoo and Kirkkonummi.
- If you use a private well, you should get the water tested every three years, even if the water seems normal.
- Well water testing is subject to a fee.
- You can find information on laboratories that test water samples, for example, on the website of the Finnish Food Authority at: https://www.ruokavirasto.fi/laboratoriopalvelut/ruokaviraston-hyvaksymat-laboratoriot/talousvesilaboratoriot/(external link) (in Finnish)
- You can order or pick up sample bottles directly from the laboratories. You can also pick up water sample bottles upon prior agreement from the service locations of Espoo Region Environmental Health Services (Espoo: Pihatörmä 1 C in Olari; Kirkkonummi: Ervastintie 2, information point at the Town Hall). Each laboratory has its own sample bottles.
- Residents can take their water samples to the laboratory or leave them on Mondays at the service location of Espoo Region Environmental Health Services at Pihatörmä 1 C from 9:00 to 11:00 or at the information point of the Kirkkonummi Town Hall at Ervastintie 2 from 8:30 to 13:00. The samples will then be delivered to the laboratory.
- You should contact the laboratory in advance to obtain sampling instructions.
- Espoo Region Environmental Health Services talousvesivalvonta@espoo.fi
- Households that get their water from a private well are responsible for the quality of its water.
- Well water should be tested:
- before starting to use a new well;
- if the odour, taste or colour of the water has changed;
- if you suspect that drinking the water made you ill.
- You should get the well water tested every three years, even if the water seems normal.
- You should not drink water that has clearly changed.
The condition of the well structures should also be checked regularly.
- The municipality monitors the quality of water in order to prevent water-related health hazards and to ensure that the quality of water meets technical and aesthetic requirements.
- The municipality regularly monitors water supply plants and other sites subject to notification obligation.
- Each water supply plant is responsible for the quality of the water it supplies and must also regularly inform water users of the quality of the water.
- A water supply plant that supplies domestic water and conducts its own water production or treatment must apply for approval at least three months before starting or changing its operations. The water supply plant must demonstrate in its application that its water treatment process is sufficient considering the quality of the raw water and the risks involved, and that the safety and quality of the water can be guaranteed.
- A written notification of the following operations within the water distribution area must be submitted to the municipal health protection authority no later than 30 days before the start of operations:
- plants supplying domestic water and water cooperatives with purchased water
- properties’ joint domestic water well (more than 50 users or volume of supplied water at least 10 m3 per day)
- use of domestic water in public and commercial activities.
- All water supply plants supplying domestic water for the needs of more than 50 persons or at least 10 m³ per day must, in cooperation with the health protection authority, draw up a monitoring programme. In addition, the water supply plant must carry out a risk assessment and prepare a plan in case of disruptions.
Downloadable files
- Download file: Terveydensuojelulain 18 mukainen hakemus.pdf.Terveydensuojelulain 18 mukainen hakemus.pdfFile is only available in FinnishFile is only available in Finnish
- Download file: TSL 20 mukainen hakemus riskinarvion hyväksymisestä.pdf.TSL 20 mukainen hakemus riskinarvion hyväksymisestä.pdfFile is only available in FinnishFile is only available in Finnish