Overview
TP 246 of Kemin kt serves approximately 27,500 people in Kemi, Finland, discharging treated wastewater into the Gulf of Bothnia via the Kemijoki River system.
TP 246 of Kemin kt is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Peurasaari, Kemi, in the Lappi region of Finland. The plant serves a population of around 27,500, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under Finnish and EU regulations. As a facility in northern Finland, it operates in a cold climate that influences treatment processes and infrastructure requirements. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalents in sensitive areas are expected to provide secondary treatment. Finland designates many of its coastal and inland waters as sensitive to eutrophication, which may necessitate more advanced treatment to reduce nutrient loads. The treated effluent from TP 246 of Kemin kt is discharged into the Gulf of Bothnia, a brackish sea arm of the Baltic Sea, via the local drainage network. The Baltic Sea is highly sensitive to nutrient pollution, making effective wastewater treatment critical for reducing algal blooms and protecting marine ecosystems. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast underscores its role in safeguarding coastal water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Gulf of Bothnia, part of the Baltic Sea, via the Kemijoki River catchment. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed brackish sea with limited water exchange, making it highly vulnerable to eutrophication from nutrient inputs. Effective treatment at this plant helps reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads that could otherwise fuel harmful algal blooms and degrade marine habitats.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Peurasaari, Kemi, in the Lappi region of Finland, near the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia.
The plant serves approximately 27,500 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU wastewater regulations.
Treated effluent is discharged into the Gulf of Bothnia via the local drainage network, likely through the Kemijoki River system.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size, with potential nutrient removal in sensitive areas like the Baltic Sea.
Finnish plants of this scale typically provide secondary biological treatment with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to meet stringent discharge limits aimed at protecting the sensitive Baltic Sea environment.
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