Protection plan for Espoo’s groundwater areas 2015

A protection plan has been drawn up for Espoo’s groundwater areas in cooperation with the City of Espoo, the HYS joint municipal authority and Uudenmaa ELY Centre.

The protection plan covers Espoo’s Brinkinmäki, Puolarmetsä, Metsämaa, Lahnus, Manki, Nupuri, Kuusikodi, Kunnarla, Mullkärret, Luukki, Siikajärvi, Velskola, Luukinjärvi, Kaitalampi, Järvikylä and Kolmiranta groundwater zones. The conservation plan examines the hydrogeological conditions of groundwater areas and risk activities that threaten groundwater quality located in groundwater zones.

HSY’s Kauklahti, Puolarmetsä, Lahnus and Kalajärvi water abstraction sites function as backup water abstraction sites. Groundwater quality has remained mainly good through water abstraction sites. Due to natural conditions, iron is present in Kauklahti’s raw water, and iron and manganese are present in Puolarmetsä’s raw water.

There are no significant risks in groundwater zones. The water quality of the groundwater areas is mainly good. Järvikylä’s groundwater zone naturally has high chloride concentrations. In the groundwater zones of Metsämaa and Lahnus, water chloride concentrations have increased due to road salting.

The protection plan presents measures to reduce the current groundwater risks. The removal of unprotected underground oil tanks and the transition to more environmentally friendly forms of heating have been proposed as protective measures. For sites classified as risk sites based on their operations, it is proposed to investigate the contamination of groundwater and soil, if there is construction in the area. In addition, guidelines have been given for land use planning.

In connection with the preparation of the protection plan, the groundwater areas of Nupuri, Kuusikoti and Luukinjärvi were removed from the mapping and classification, and the Kaitalampi groundwater zone was changed to a point-like groundwater area, because they are not significant in terms of water procurement. The Järvikylä groundwater area was removed from the mapping and classification, because it would not be technically and economically usable for water procurement due to high chloride concentrations. Mullkärret’s groundwater zone was moved to category E, because it is partly located in a Natura area.