WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

The Baltic Sea and surrounding water bodies are exposed to increased pollution from rural and urban catchment areas. Whereas point pollution sources are often easy to identify and address, diffuse pollution is less obvious and therefore also harder to identify and mitigate. We propose a practical and resource wise Watershed Safety Plan (WSSP) operational model that will enable municipalities, water utilities and similar actors to reduce the amount of diffuse pollution which typically contain harmful nutrient inflows, hazardous substances, and pathogens from reaching the Baltic Sea. WSSP has recently been piloted in Finland. To develop a generally applicable model, project pilot areas include densely built areas, sparsely populated agricultural and forested areas. WSSP is piloted in close cooperation with its end users. Each pilot catchment area is surveyed in detail with modern technologies such as GIS tools, and field methods to identify risk areas to target and implement sustainable water protection activities to reduce diffuse pollution resource-wisely and effectively. WSSP will include current applications, but also new dynamic simulation models, that will enable decision makers to compare different scenarios and interventions. This is the first time when such an applicable catchment area-based operating model is adapted at this scale for municipalities and water utilities and similar actors in the Central Baltic area. Diffuse pollution is a joint challenge facing the Baltic region and it can only be solved by acting together. Acting separately would be the waste of limited resources. By improving water quality in the Central Baltic area, WSSP will also improve the well-being of the inhabitants, especially in pilot areas. The total budget of the project is 2.600.555,42 EUR, and it is shared as follows; HAMK 451.819,00 EUR, UH 398.443,47 EUR, LUVY 298.208,89 EUR, KTH 349.685,84 EUR, CAB 271.970,62 EUR, EULS 303.856,40 EUR, VV 104.869,20 EUR, RTU 377.618,00 EUR, and LW 44.084,00 EUR.

Expected Achievements (EN):

The objective of work package 1 (WP1) is to pilot the risk assessment stage of the WSSP in collaboration with at least 12 relevant target groups comprising of municipalities and water utilities. This includes the development and piloting of data collection methods and procedures and specification of applicable risk criteria, which are required for the creation of the risk maps for pilot areas. This research will be used to develop the WSSP which will provide an actionable framework for municipalities and water utilities to implement a holistic surface water management in the different catchment areas in the future. The objective of the work package 2 is to pilot the field stage of the WSSP operational model and improve in total 6 load sources by designing and implementing water protection measures based on the WSSP risk assessment. Testing and monitoring of the water protection measures are also key elements of this stage. Municipalities and water utilities will need the WSSP operational model in the future to manage surface waters in a sustainable and resource-wise way. Therefore, the field stage of the WSSP is piloted in this work package, so that they have at their disposal a working and tested model. The overall objective of the WP3 is to disseminate the WSSP operational model and ensure that municipalities and water utilities will implement and use it now and in the future to manage surface waters in a sustainable and resource-wise way. This objective would result in a significant reduction in pollution load to the Baltic Sea. The project aims to empower 24 municipalities and/or water utilities to implement the WSSP model in the Central Baltic area.

Project outputs: Participations in workshop 1(EN)
Participations in workshop 2(EN)
Implementation plans of the water protection measures(EN)
Participation in training sessions 1 and 2 and workshop 3(EN)

Thematic information

ICT and digital society Waterways, lakes and rivers Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-A_CB_P2) Improved environment and resource use

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 064 Water management and water resource conservation (including river basin management, specific climate change adaptation measures, reuse, leakage reduction)

Partners (9)

Lead Partner: Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI26174893

Department: HAMK Bio Research Unit

Address: Visamäentie, 13100 Hämeenlinna, Finland

Department address: Visamäentie, 13100 13100, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.hamk.fi/?lang=en

Total budget: EUR 451 819.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 361 455.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 90 363.80

Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte

Name: Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte

Department: Water Systems and Biotechnology Institute

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV90000068977

Address: Kipsalas, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Department address: Kipsalas, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://usbi.rtu.lv/?lang=en

Total budget: EUR 377 618.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 302 094.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 75 523.60

Liepājas ūdens

Name: Liepājas ūdens

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV42103000897

Address: K.Valdemara iela, LV-3401 Liepaja, Latvia

Department address: K.Valdemara iela, LV-3401 Liepaja, Latvia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.liepajas-udens.lv/

Total budget: EUR 44 084.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 35 267.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 8 816.80

Kungliga tekniska högskolan

Name: Kungliga tekniska högskolan

Department: Department of Industrial Biotechnology

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE202100305401

Address: Brinellvägen, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden

Department address: Roslagstullsbacken, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.kth.se/dib

Total budget: EUR 349 685.84

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 279 748.67

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 69 937.17

AS Valga Vesi

Name: AS Valga Vesi

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100491030

Address: Metsa, 68206 Valga, Estonia

Department address: Metsa, 68206 Valga, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.valgavesi.ee

Total budget: EUR 104 869.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 83 895.36

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 973.84

Eesti Maaülikool

Name: Eesti Maaülikool

Department: Chair of Rural Building and Water Management

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100018015

Address: Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Department address: Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.emu.ee/en

Total budget: EUR 303 856.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 243 085.12

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 60 771.28

Länsstyrelsen Östergötland

Name: Länsstyrelsen Östergötland

Department: Department of water

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE202100227001

Address: Östgötagatan, 58186 Linköping, Sweden

Department address: Östgötagatan, 58186 Linköping, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/ostergotland.html

Total budget: EUR 271 970.62

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 217 576.49

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 54 394.13

Länsi-uudenmaan vesi ja ympäristö ry

Name: Länsi-uudenmaan vesi ja ympäristö ry

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI02139604

Address: Länsi-Louhenkatu, 08100 Lohja, Finland

Department address: Länsi-Louhenkatu, 08100 Lohja, Finland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.luvy.fi

Total budget: EUR 298 208.89

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 238 567.11

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 59 641.78

Helsingin yliopisto

Name: Helsingin yliopisto

Department: FBES Biological Research Stations and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI03134717

Address: Yliopistonkatu, 00014 Helsinki, Finland

Department address: Pääjärventie, 16900 Lammi, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en

Total budget: EUR 398 443.47

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 318 754.77

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 79 688.70

Partners map

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Riga Technical University

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

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Liepaja Water

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

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Royal Institute of Technology

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Partners and Projects info

AS Valga Vesi

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Partners and Projects info

Estonian University of Life Sciences

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

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County Administrative Board of Östergötland

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Partners and Projects info

The Association for Water and Environment of Western Uusimaa

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Partners and Projects info

University of Helsinki

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Partners and Projects info

Häme University of Applied Sciences Ltd.

WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Project acronym: WSSP

Project ID: CB0300189

Project start date: 2024-05-01

Project end date: 2027-10-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Stormwater management in Urban Catchment-based Safety Planning (HULVATTU) 2021-2023 (EN) | In national project in Finland implemented by HAMK, called Stormwater management in Urban Catchment-based Safety Planning (HULVATTU) 2021-2023, WSSP process has been tested up to the risk identification stage in three urban pilot areas. Municipalities were involved in the developing process. The availability of GIS data sets and suitable criteria for risk assessment were surveyed for example. The project produced much useful information for further development of WSSP, which will be considered in this Central Baltic project. The work to ensure the durability of WSSP has already started, WSSP is involved in Road Map for Circular Economy in Kanta-Häme Province in Finland. There, it is set as one of the most important working methods to improve water protection. (EN), WATERCHAIN - Pilot watersheds as a practical tool to reduce the harmful inflows into the Baltic Sea 2012-2018, INTERREG Central Baltic Programme 2014-2020 (EN) | The WATERCHAIN project has been implemented catchment level pilot studies to reduce the nutrient load (Pilot watersheds as a practical tool to reduce the harmful inflows into the Baltic Sea 2012-2018, INTERREG Central Baltic Programme 2014-2020). However, the project was not focused on how decision makers and public actors, like municipalities and water utilities, could implement catchment area based operational model to reduce the diffuse pollution, like WSSP project does. The decision-makers have been offered the modelling examples of nutrients and harmful substances and technologies to their reduction, but it has not been properly explained how the investigation at the catchment area level can be carried out from start to finish. Modelling and technologies collected in WATERCHAIN project will be included in relevant steps WSSP operational model. (EN), iWater - Integrated Stormwater Management 2015-2018, INTERREG Central Baltic Programme 2014-2020 (EN) | In Integrated Stormwater Management (iWater) project 2015-2018 (INTERREG Central Baltic Programme 2014-2020), has been developed as smart system for stormwater management. The intention is to incorporate that into part of the WSSP operational model and promote its dissemination. WSSP is a framework that gives a clear step-by-step instruction to municipalities and water utilities on how to reduce diffuse pollution on catchment area level. The iWater project presents different existing tools and models for this, like this Integrated Storm Water Management (ISWM). ISWM includes smart systemic stages and tools, like various workshop models for stormwater management, but the catchment aspect and utilisation of GIS tools plays a minor role, unlike in WSSP. By combining the WSSP and ISWM more effective results can be achieved in stormwater and diffuse pollution control. In addition, WSSP can also utilized in other than urban catchment areas. (EN), OptiWaMag, Optimization of waste management in urban spaces and in households 2019-2023, Interreg Europe (EN) | Focus on innovation of waste management in urban spaces and in households. The project supports the waste infrastructure, develop the awareness of waste collection and improved the well-being of citizens. WSSP will compliment OptiWaMag with new knowledge about sources of pollution, the environmental impact of urban areas, and measures to reduce the dispersion of pollutants from urban areas. The OptiWaMag project is lead by CAB. (EN), CWPharma, Clear Waters from Pharmaceuticals 2017-2020, Interreg BSR (EN) | Focused on measures to reduce emissions of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the Baltic Sea Region, e.g. advanced municipal wastewater treatment. WSSP will compliment CWPharma by increasing the knowledge about the prevalence of pharmaceutical ingredients in the pilot catchment areas, as well as remediation measures. CAB was a partner in this project. (EN), Coastal Water Strategy 2050 in Western Uusimaa
During the years 2021-2022, LUVY conducted a pilot project “Coastal Water Strategy in Western Uusimaa”, in which the restoration plans for both Dragsviksfjärden and Tavastfjärden were implemented. The aim is to target restoration action to the most eutrophicated bay areas in the coastal areas of Western Uusimaa, the operational area of LUVY. This project is about to continue as a strategy or vision level, when long-term self-financing is obtained from the stakeholders (mainly municipalities). With the strong self-finance, external funding and sub-projects for the restoration actions will be applied. (EN) | This applied WSSP project will perfectly implement the Coastal Water Strategy 2050 in Western Uusimaa by providing a sub-project for the strategy. The tasks and activities correspond to the needs that the restorations plans suggest for the target study areas. WSSP model provides a new tool, which hopefully can be widely used in the future work in other catchment areas in Western Uusimaa region.
(EN), Environmental Investment Centre project 'Updating stormwater system design guidelines'. 2020 (EN) | The goal of the project was to carry out a statistical analysis of recorded historical rainfall data to update intensity-duration-frequency curves for the whole of Estonia to design stormwater drainage systems. Results are utilised in WSSP piloting. (EN), LIFE project 'Development of sustainable and climate resilient urban stormwater management systems for Nordic municipalities' 2018-2023 (EN) | SWMM model was developed and calibrated for four pilot sites by EULS. Stormwater monitoring system toolbox for flooding warnings was established too. Experiences of this project are used in WSSP project. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 600 555.42

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 080 444.32

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 080 444.32. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Preliminary list of WSSP end users participating in the project
Data review of pilot areas
Preliminary risk criteria list
Risk criteria list
Risk maps of pilot areas
Data review of water protection measures and tools
External communication about the start phase of the project
External communication about the risk assessment pilots
Preliminary water protection measure implementation plan
Feedback of water protection measure plans
Permits
Implementation plans and procurements
Implemented water protection measures
Results of the pollution reductions
Communication on workshop 2
Communication on the implementation of water protection measures
Communication about the results of testing the water protection measures
Digital WSSP guideline
Training materials of training session 1 and dissemination
Training materials of training session 2 and dissemination
Sustainability and development plan of the WSSP operational model
Dissemination of the WSSP operational model

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion The WSSP project contribute to three Policy Areas; PA Nutri, PA Hazards, and PA Health. The project has the same aim to reduce nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea to mitigate eutrophication and help to achieve a good ecological status as PA Nutri. Diffuse pollution is still the significant source of nutrient emissions to the Baltic Sea. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent and reduce diffuse pollution from urban, forestry, and agricultural load sources. The project will also contribute PA Hazards because WSSP operational model is utilized to prevent and mitigate all kinds of pollution sources including hazardous chemical emissions to water bodies and the Baltic Sea. PA Health is also contributed by the project. WSSP operational model helps public authorities and other stakeholders working for the status of good water quality in the Baltic Sea Region to control diffuse pollution including nutrients, hazardous substances, and pathogens more effectively. The WSSP operational model includes health risk assessment if it is necessary and thus, microbiological risks concerning waters are considered when investigating catchments in systematic way. With the WSSP operational model, appropriate pollution mitigation measures can be selected to relevant locations and save resources. Inhabitants in the pilot catchment areas benefits from the improved water quality.
Other EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets the target of good quality water bodies within Europe. Diffuse loading is one of the main obstacles that prevents surface waters and Baltic Sea to achieve a good or excellent status, which is the goal of water framework directive. Currently, water management processes, gives good tools to restrict point sources of external loading but we also need to identify the whole catchment area, where diffuse loading should be reduced to achieve good ecological status. WSSP tackles this challenge. Activities to achieve the goals of the WFD are involved in national policies in partner countries. Part of the project partners are very actively involved in the implementation of the WFD, like CAB from Sweden.

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

Eesti (EE), Valga
Sverige (SE), Stockholm, 13056, Utö
Suomi/Finland (FI), Kirkkonummi, 02480
Suomi/Finland (FI), Kirkkonummi, 02480
Latvija (LV), Liepaja, Libiesu, 33, LV3401
Suomi/Finland (FI)
Sverige (SE), Norrköping

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR4 The number of improved urban and agricultural load sources, Measurement unit: number of load sources

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 112 (56.25%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

251 / 446 (56.28%)

Notes on the data

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WaterShed Safety Plan for controlling diffuse pollution

Description

Thematic information

Partners (9)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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