Household water
The municipal health protection authority regularly monitors the quality of domestic water distributed by water utilities. Each water utility must have a monitoring research program that includes a sampling plan. The water utility is responsible for meeting the quality requirements for domestic water up to the point of connection to the property's water main. Small water units and individual households outside the water utility's distribution network are responsible for the quality of the domestic water they procure themselves and the system used to procure water. The quality of their own well water must be monitored by regular tests. The municipal health protection authority may also order the water from an individual well to be tested if there is reason to suspect that the water causes a health hazard.
Well water testing
It is a good idea to have the water quality of your well tested every three years, even if there are no odor or taste problems. Water sample bottles are available from the City of Hamina customer service point (Puistokatu 6) on weekdays, Mon-Fri, 8 am-12 pm and 13 pm-15 pm. Water samples can be left at the City of Hamina customer service point on Wednesdays, 8 am-11 am, from where they will be delivered to the Kymi Environmental Laboratory free of charge. Water tests are subject to a fee; you can ask the health inspectors about sample tests, tel. 05 749 2551 or From the Kymi Environmental Laboratory tel. 05 544 3300.
The quality of well water is affected by, among other things, the condition and maintenance of the well. Instructions on building and renovating a well can be found, for example, vesi.fi from the website.
Fluoride and radon
High fluoride and radon concentrations have been found in well water samples taken from Hamina, Virolahti and Miehikkälä. High fluoride and radon concentrations in domestic water are a common problem in almost the entire Kymenlaakso region. Kymenlaakso belongs to the Rapakivi region. Rapakivi is a type of granite with a particularly high fluoride content. The high fluoride content in the soil causes a large amount of fluoride, which is the ionic form of fluorine, to dissolve in the groundwater and surface water in the area. Fluoride is a substance that easily moves in water and does not re-bind to the ground very much. Therefore, groundwater that occurs close to the ground surface, such as in springs and shallow wells, often contains a lot of fluoride. Fluoride is healthy for teeth in small concentrations, but high fluoride concentrations can cause bone fragility and tooth discoloration. Excessive fluoride intake is particularly harmful for children, young people and pregnant women. Fluoride can be removed from water by diluting the water or using water treatment equipment. More information about water treatment equipment can be found on the Finnish Environment Institute website.
High radon concentrations have also been found, especially in the area's borehole water wells. Naturally occurring radioactive substances dissolve into the groundwater from the soil and bedrock. Several radioactive substances dissolve into the bedrock groundwater, especially from uranium-containing granites, the most significant of which is usually gaseous radon. The concentrations of radioactive substances in borehole water are on average ten times higher than in ring well water and twenty times higher than in network water. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has set the quality recommendation for radon concentration for small domestic water units at 300 Bq/l and for private well water at 1000 Bq/l. Drinking water containing radon increases the radiation dose to the stomach and is released into the indoor air that is inhaled when taking a shower and doing laundry. A radiation dose exceeding the guideline values is associated with an increased risk of cancer. It is always recommended to test borehole water wells for radon and if the concentrations are exceeded, the necessary measures must be taken. More information on radon concentrations in drinking water can be found at STUK from the pages.
Water cooperatives
Water cooperatives that are being established must report their activities to the health authority. In addition, for at least 50 people or more than 10 m3/day water cooperatives supplying water must, together with health supervision, draw up surveillance research program.
Approval of a utility supplying domestic water and notification obligation of the water distribution area
Health Protection Act 1994/763
Section 18 Approval of a facility supplying domestic water
A facility supplying domestic water that has its own water production or treatment must apply for approval of its operations from the municipal health protection authority no later than 3 months before the planned start of operations. Domestic water may not be supplied until the operations have been approved.
Approval of the operation must also be applied for if the water intake or water treatment is expanded or substantially changed, or if there are significant changes in the quality of the water or its distribution that affect the quality of domestic water. The application for the change must be submitted no later than 30 days before the change of the operation. The operation may not be changed before the application has been approved.
The municipal health protection authority must send the application for information to the regional state administrative agencies, economic development, transport and environmental centres and municipal health protection authorities to whose area the utility supplying domestic water supplies water or from whose area it takes water, and reserve an opportunity for them to give a statement on the application.
In its approval decision, the municipal health protection authority shall designate the water distribution areas of the facility supplying domestic water. In its approval decision, the municipal health protection authority shall issue the applicant with the necessary regulations referred to in section 20.
Section 18 a Duty to notify about water distribution area
An operator who extracts domestic water with their own equipment for use as part of a public or commercial activity, and a facility other than a domestic water supply facility referred to in section 18, must submit a notification to the municipal health protection authority referred to in section 13. The owner of a water abstraction point or water tank in shared use must submit a notification to the municipal health protection authority referred to in section 13 for the water distribution area if water is extracted with the water users' own equipment for use as domestic water for the needs of at least 50 people in total or at least 10 cubic metres per day.
From the form page The application for approval of a utility supplying domestic water and the water distribution area notification form can be found here.
Legionella control in property maintenance
Small amounts of microbes enter the water systems of properties with natural water and water treated by water utilities. Microbes multiply in water systems if the growth conditions are favorable. Microbes can degrade water quality and some of them can pose a health risk. We have prepared a video Legionella-genus bacteria control as part of property maintenance. The video explains the risks associated with this genus of bacteria, risk assessment, control methods and infection prevention.
Legionella control in property maintenance
For more information:
Health inspector Katja Lehtonen tel. 040 199 1270