Guidelines for construction site water management among key environmental efforts in 2023

6.5.2024 5.37

Construction site waters are reduced by keeping the site and its surroundings as vegetated and undisturbed as possible. At the construction site seen above, the soil surface has been largely removed, allowing sediment discharge to degrade water quality in the stream. Photo: City of Espoo, Aron Larsson

In 2023, Espoo’s Environmental Protection Unit coordinated a multi-operator team that created new ambitious guidelines for construction site water management in the capital region. In addition, Espoo’s environmental protection staff published a guide to stormwater treatment on properties, visited schools to talk about biodiversity loss, and encouraged properties to join the wastewater network. Last year’s key measures have been compiled into our newly published annual review.

The guidelines for construction site water management provide advice for building contractors on water treatment methods and practices that reduce the pollution of waterbodies. By following the guidelines, building contractors will reduce the impacts of construction on waterbodies and help preserve the diversity of the aquatic environment. This will also contribute to achieving the national goals related to the health of the environment and waterbodies.

The environmental protection review 2023 summarises the city’s most important environmental efforts. Last year, we:

published a new guide to stormwater treatment on properties and distributed it to households in the Pitkäjärvi and Lippajärvi area;
established three new nature reserves to safeguard biodiversity;
visited schools in Espoo to talk about climate efforts and combatting biodiversity loss;
surveyed residential properties’ wastewater solutions in the Kalajärvi groundwater area and urged properties to join the wastewater network in order to reduce the pollution of waterbodies;
reduced the noise nuisance caused by large outdoor concerts through noise-related regulations.

The Environmental Protection Unit is responsible for environmental protection and nature conservation in Espoo. The unit is part of the Environment and Building Control Department.