Oil and chemical spills

The rescue department is responsible for damage limitation and initial response measures in case of an environmental accident. Environmental incidents must also be reported to the City of Espoo’s Environment Protection Unit, which provides expert assistance in relation to the special characteristics of the natural environments in Espoo. A notification should also be made to the Finnish Supervisory Agency(external link, opens in a new window) (external link, available in Finnish only), as it is responsible for investigating the causes of environmental incidents, assessing their environmental impacts, and assisting other authorities in response efforts when necessary.

Oil and chemical spills can cause significant environmental damage by contaminating soil as well as surface and groundwater. In accident situations, rapid containment of contamination and prevention of further damage are essential.

Contaminated soil and/or water areas must always be cleaned up. Absorbent materials used in spill response and soil removed during cleanup must be taken to hazardous waste collection(external link, opens in a new window) or to another reception facility appropriate for the level of contamination. In case of more extensive environmental damage, it may be necessary to submit a notification of the clean-up of soil or groundwater to the Finnish Supervisory Agency(external link, opens in a new window) (external link, available in Finnish only).

The costs of immediate response actions and cleanup resulting from environmental damage or environmental crimes are primarily the responsibility of the party that caused the damage. If the party responsible cannot be identified, the costs fall to the owner of the property or land area.

Environmental incidents can be prevented in advance by ensuring safe handling and storage practices for oil and chemicals, and by regularly inspecting equipment and tanks. An oil spill may also be discovered, for example, during the removal of an underground oil tank. The City of Espoo’s environmental protection regulations provide more detailed requirements on how storage and handling must be carried out safely.

A film that looks like oil on the water surface is not always oil. Iron and manganese are naturally released into water from soil and bedrock. When this water reaches the surface and comes into contact with oxygen, these metals oxidize and, together with bacteria that utilize iron compounds, form a film that resembles oil. This film created through bacterial activity breaks apart into flake‑like, loose patches along its edges. You can try to break the film, for example, by using a stick. A bacterial film has no smell. Especially in shallow waters, such as ditches, bacterial activity can create large rust‑colored areas. However, this is not environmental damage, but merely a natural phenomenon.

Oil, on the other hand, has a characteristic odor, and it is often identifiable by smell when outdoors. An oil film is flexible and does not break into separate patches along the edges; instead, it closes back into a single continuous layer. If no additional oil is entering the water and there is no need for immediate oil‑spill response, you may report the matter to the City of Espoo’s Environmental Protection unit. Reports submitted to Environmental Protection are read during office hours, and processing may therefore take several days. If the situation appears to require rapid action with response equipment, you must make a report by calling the emergency number 112.

Read more:   

Where can I take hazardous waste? (HSY)(external link, opens in a new window)  

Rescue Department’s oil spill response(external link, opens in a new window)