Agriculture, oil spill prevention and water treatment in Northeast Russia play a key role in the cleaning of the Baltic. A sewage treatment plant, which Finns have been wanting for years, ranks at the head of the project list.

Cleaning the sewage of St. Petersburg is a significant step forward in the environmental protection of the Baltic. Untreated waste water currently enters the Gulf of Finland and causes the closed Baltic basin to become polluted and eutrophic.

Northeast Russian water utilities can make use of Nordic know-how and overall synergies, whereby the sludge generated during drinking water treatment can be effectively reused to clean waste water.

A recent decision-in-principle by the Finnish government supports the restoration of the Baltic's ecological balance. EUR 300-370 million has been set aside for the project.

Phosphorous and nitrogen loads will be reduced both in Finland and in neighbouring countries. The 10-15 year protection program for the Baltic includes 30 means for reducing nutrient emissions contributing to the eutrophication of the sea.

The program places particular emphasis on the reduction of agricultural emissions and the construction of the St. Petersburg water treatment facility.

>> Kemira starts water chemicals production in St. Petersburg (7.6.2002)

Eutrophication brought by nutrient emissions is at the top of the list of problems faced by the Baltic Sea.
Photo: Finnish Marine Research Institute / Riku Lumiaro.