Quality of domestic water

Espoo Region Environmental Health Services regularly monitors the quality of water supplied by water utilities and cooperatives.

Monitoring of water utilities is statutory and based on decrees issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health:

• Ministry of Social Affairs and Health decree on the quality and monitoring of domestic water and the risk management of water systems of buildings (1352/2015) (in Finnish)(external link, opens in a new window)
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Health decree on quality requirements and monitoring of household water in small units (401/2001) (in Finnish)(external link, opens in a new window)

Espoo Region Environmental Health Services also monitors the quality of well water in sites where well water is used in food premises or as part of public or commercial operations.

The Vesi.fi(external link, opens in a new window) website provides basic information about major water utilities as well as details on water treatment and quality. You can search for information by street address or municipality name. The site shows whether the water supplied to your home is surface water or groundwater and how it is treated. You can also view results of official samples taken from the water supply network.

How is the quality of tap water monitored? (Vesi.fi, in Finnish)(external link, opens in a new window)

Household water and warm tap water (Valvira)(external link, opens in a new window)

There are several water utilities in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi that produce domestic water by treating raw water in their plants. In addition, there are several water cooperatives in Espoo and Kirkkonummi that supply water but do not have their own water production or treatment facilities.

Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) (external link, opens in a new window)supplies drinking water to most residents in Espoo and Kauniainen. HSY’s raw water comes from Lake Päijänne.

Kirkkonummen Vesi(external link, opens in a new window) supplies domestic water to a large portion of Kirkkonummi residents.

The raw water comes from Lake Meiko. Additional water for the network is purchased from HSY and the Siuntio water utility. Domestic water in Veikkola comes from two groundwater intake plants in the area and from HSY.

The water utility is responsible for the quality of the water it supplies and for informing the public about it. The utility is responsible for water quality up to the property’s connection point. The property owner is responsible for the effects of their own pipes and water systems on water quality.

If you notice changes in your tap water, such as unusual colour or smell, take the following steps:

1. Check for any disturbances on the water utility’s website: HSY:(external link, opens in a new window) Disturbances in water quality(external link, opens in a new window) or Kirkkonummen Vesi: water supply status map(external link, opens in a new window)
2. Run all taps for about ten minutes and keep an eye on any changes in water quality.
3. If running the taps does not improve the quality of the water, contact the building manager (housing companies) or the water utility (detached houses).
4. If the issue is still not resolved, you can contact Espoo Region Environmental Health Services by email at talousvesivalvonta@espoo.fi. In cases of suspected health hazards caused by water, Espoo Region Environmental Health Services will investigate the matter in cooperation with the water utility.

If your domestic water comes from a private well, please see the instructions on the Well water as domestic and drinking water page.

In sparsely populated areas without municipal water supply, domestic water is obtained from wells. The property owner is responsible for the condition of the well structures and for getting the water tested.

Read more about well water in Western Uusimaa, well water testing and interpreting results, and inspecting well structures. 

A new domestic water supply plant that has its own water production or treatment facilities must apply for approval from Espoo Region Environmental Health Services at least three months before starting its operations.

Approval must also be sought if water intake or treatment is significantly increased or changed, or if there are significant changes affecting the quality or distribution of domestic water. The application concerning changes must be submitted at least 30 days before the changes take place. Operations must not be changed before approval is granted.

Espoo Region Environmental Health Services talousvesivalvonta@espoo.fi

Mari Louhi, Environmental Health Officer, tel. +358 40 550 1596

Juho Kutvonen, Environmental Health Officer tel. +358 40 636 4964

Emma Laamanen, Environmental Health Officer tel. +358 40 634 3923