KA11022 Improvement of water resource management in the Northern Ladoga border region (WaterForLife)

It is well known that the most of the territory of Karelia is swamped - surface waters, especially small lakes and rivers are polluted by wetland humus (natural organic compounds). Small border village of Kaalamo (Sortavala region) is located also in a swampy area and discharging wastewater on terrain, so this settlement is in conditions typical for border regions of Karelia and Finland in this respect. First of all, the low quality of centralized water supply in the village is caused by low quality of natural water at the source - the Tohmajoki river. The purification of such water for drinking purpose is quite complicated – it requires multi-stage expensive technology based on physical and chemical processes. Unfortunately this technology can’t guarantee a consistently high quality of drinking water supplied to consumers because the degree of pollution of natural water depends on weather conditions and is not stable over the seasons. Ecological problem linked to the use of these method of water purification is the formation of residue from technological water (used for pressure cleaning of water supply system). This residue contains harmful chemical compounds. As a rule after purification the technological water is discharged on terrain or into a water body, which further increases negative environmental impact from a settlement.

So, there are three basic problems in small settlements of Karelia (including Kaalamo) – discharging of untreated sewage water into water bodies or terrain, bad quality tap water not safe for drinking and residue containing harmful chemical compounds which is contaminating soil and air.

By implementing WaterForLife project we strive to make the following changes:

1. Humanitarian impact: The population of the village of Kaalamo (1200 people) will be provided with clean and less expensive drinking water.
2. Ecological impact: Pollution of the trans-boundary river Tohmajoki and the Ladoga Lake catchment area with harmful waste (aluminum compounds) will be ceased. Untreated waste water discharge will be stopped, thereby starting the process of restoration and self-purification of the river and lake.
3. Economic impact: European standards for the quality of water supply and sanitation services will be ensured. This will significantly contribute to the development of international tourism on this territory, which has unique natural sites and cultural and historical sights (the famous mountain park and waterfalls of Ruskeala are located near the village). Tourist flow will increase.
4. Multiplication: A model of an effective comprehensive solution for obtaining high-quality and cheap drinking water will be presented to all interested organisations. Example of a small village in Karelia with specific technical solutions can be applied as standard approach everywhere on the territory of Karelia.

Project news

Small border village of Kaalamo (Sortavala region) is located in a swampy area and discharging wastewater on terrain, which is common for border regions of Karelia and Finland.

First of all, the low quality of centralized water supply in the village is caused by low quality of natural water at the source - the Tohmajoki River which is located in 7 km from the settlement and has quite high levels of Suspended Solids, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Colour, Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) compounds. The purification of such water for drinking purpose is based on physical and chemical processes. Unfortunately this technology can’t guarantee a consistently high quality of drinking water supplied to consumers and causes the formation of residue from technological water that contains harmful chemical compounds. As a rule after purification the technological water is discharged on terrain or into a water body, which further increases negative environmental impact from a settlement.
So, there are three basic problems in small settlements of Karelia (including Kaalamo) – discharging of untreated sewage water into water bodies or terrain, bad quality tap water not safe for drinking and residue containing harmful chemical compounds which is contaminating soil and air.

In Finland, groundwater from sand and gravel deposits (an alternative to village wells) is successfully used for drinking water supply in rural areas. As a rule, such water reserves are enough to supply a small settlement. The advantage of water supply from underground water sources (groundwater intakes) is pure drinking-water quality that does not require additional treatment and has a low cost. At the same time, water from cleaning, containing aluminium and other metals, is simply not formed. In the border regions of Karelia, geological conditions are similar to Finland. Significant volumes of groundwater are concentrated here in permeable layers of sand and gravel deposits of glacial origin. Under these conditions, Finnish experience in using groundwater as pure natural sources of water supply is necessary for the implementation of the project in the village of Kaalamo regarding reconstruction of the water supply system of the village.
For the implementation of the project in the village of Kaalamo regarding the reconstruction of the sewage system, Finnish experience in the design and construction of automated complex treatment facilities will be of great importance. The use of Finnish experience and familiarity with modern European technologies in this area will make it possible to implement the best highly effective treatment systems in Kaalamo and eliminate environmental pollution from the discharge of untreated sewage into the Tohmajoki River.
For implementation of both components of the project Russian managers and technical experts need comprehensive information about modern equipment produced in Finland or in EU. This will enable Finnish companies to make their products better known in Karelia and therefore increase their sales in the future.

The project will show how the above-described problems could be solved on the basis of the pilot object - Kaalamo settlement. The project will be aimed at introduction of modern, efficient practices, such as: supply of the village with cheap high-quality drinking water without the formation of harmful waste and effective and efficient wastewater treatment in compact fully automated sewage treatment plant, eliminating environmental pollution by untreated wastewater.
In accordance with the priority “Clean and comfortable region to live” (with special focus on waste management) the overall objective of the proposed project is  - “Improved living and working environment” with special focus on elimination of harmful waste produced by water and sewage purification systems.
The specific objective of the project is – Physical living environment is improved by means of introduction of modern water supply and sanitation systems in Kaalamo settlement.

The expected change the project will make to the current situation.
1. Humanitarian impact: The population of the village of Kaalamo (1200 people) will be provided with clean and less expensive drinking water. The project implementation will make it possible to avoid the threat to the health of the population of the village associated with the use of low-quality tap water for drinking and food cooking. Thus, an important humanitarian goal will be achieved - improving the quality of life of residents and visitors (tourists and businessmen) of Kaalamo settlement.
2. Ecological impact: Pollution of the trans-boundary river Tohmajoki and the Ladoga Lake catchment area with harmful waste (aluminum compounds) will be ceased. Untreated waste water discharge will be stopped, thereby starting the process of restoration and self-purification of the river and lake.
3. Economic impact: European standards for the quality of water supply and sanitation services will be ensured. This will significantly contribute to the development of international tourism on this territory, which has unique natural sites and cultural and historical sights (the famous mountain park and waterfalls of Ruskeala are located near the village). Tourist flow will increase.
4. Multiplication: A model of an effective comprehensive solution for obtaining high-quality and cheap drinking water will be presented to all interested organisations. Example of a small village in Karelia with specific technical solutions can be applied as standard approach everywhere on the territory of Karelia.

The beneficiaries of the project are residents of the village of Kaalamo, Sortavala region and numerous tourists and people visiting this area on business.
The target groups of the project (direct beneficiaries) include representatives of authorities and other organizations responsible for housing, communal services, environmental monitoring and control:
-    Administration of the Kaalamo rural settlement,
-    Administration of the Sortavala municipal district,
-    Karelian and Finnish local utility companies
-    Local administrations from North Karelia region,
-    Government of the Republic of Karelia
-    Federal monitoring agencies: Rosprirodnadzor, Rospotrebnadzor,
-    Local authorities from Karelia

The main outputs the project will produce.
1. Most appropriate modern technologies and equipment for the purification of drinking water and sewage treatment in small settlements are identified with regard to Finnish experience.
2. The water supply system in Kaalamo settlement is improved (on the basis of preliminary studies and design estimates prepared within the CBC Karelia project KA219 “Ground water supply in Sortavala district”)
3. Set of construction documentation is developed and new automated water treatment plant is built with regard to Finnish experience.
4. The experience in the operation of such facilities in Karelia and Finland is presented to a wide audience

All project activities are distributed into 4 work packages:

WP1. Identification of modern technologies for the purification of drinking water and sewage treatment in small settlements.
WP2. Improving the drinking water supply system in Kaalamo village.
WP3. Improving the sewage system of the Kaalamo village.
WP4. Project activities promotion and project results dissemination.

The following Partners will work together towards the implementation of the KA11022 project:

The Lead Partner:

Karelvodokanal Ltd., the only company managing and maintaining all water supply and sanitation facilities of Sortavala town. The main activities of the company are: intake, purification and distribution of water, waste water treatment and disposal of residues (sludge).

Partner:

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) is a research and expert institute under the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and as part of the state environmental administration it provides information, know-how and services necessary for the sustainable development of society. It has expertise and experience in the protection of water resources in the Baltic Sea basin. SYKE experts are known in Finland and internationally as responsible and creative environmental professionals..

Karelvodokanal Ltd. (Lead Partner):

Sovetskaja str. 24, 186792 Sortavala, Russian Federation

Telephone number: +7 81430 45344

Email: office@karelvodokanal.ru

Website: http://karelvodokanal.ru/

 

Project management subcontractor:

10, Englesa str., 185035 Petrozavodsk, Russia

Telephone number: +7 (8142) 76 93 91

Email: kaeec@sampo.ru 

Website: kaeec.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ano_eec