Overview
TP 359 of Kouvolan kt is a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Kouvola, Kymenlaakso, Finland, serving approximately 37,000 people. It operates under Finland's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
TP 359 of Kouvolan kt is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Keltti district of Kouvola, within the Kymenlaakso region of southern Finland. The plant serves an estimated population of 37,000, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. Its location in the Kymi River basin positions it within a region known for its forest industry and water-intensive manufacturing. As a Finnish plant serving over 10,000 population equivalents, TP 359 is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary biological treatment as a minimum standard. Finland has also designated many inland waters as sensitive areas under the directive, often necessitating additional nutrient removal, particularly phosphorus, to protect the Baltic Sea from eutrophication. The plant's designed capacity of 1.00 million cubic meters per year suggests it is sized to handle the organic load from its service area. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Kymi River (Kymijoki), which flows southward through the Kymenlaakso region and empties into the Gulf of Finland, part of the Baltic Sea. The Kymi River is one of Finland's largest rivers and supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and sea trout populations. The Baltic Sea is a brackish water body highly sensitive to nutrient inputs, making effective wastewater treatment critical for reducing algal blooms and maintaining ecological balance.
Environmental context
TP 359 discharges into the Kymi River (Kymijoki), which flows approximately 200 kilometers south through forested and agricultural landscapes before reaching the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The river supports migratory fish species such as salmon and sea trout, and its estuary provides important nursery habitats. The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed, brackish sea with limited water exchange, making it highly vulnerable to nutrient pollution from wastewater and agricultural runoff. Effective treatment at plants like TP 359 helps mitigate eutrophication risks in the Gulf of Finland.
Frequently asked questions
TP 359 of Kouvolan kt is located in the Keltti district of Kouvola, in the Kymenlaakso region of southern Finland. The address is Keltintie, Simolanmäki, Keltti, Kuusankosken suuralue, Kouvola.
The plant serves approximately 37,000 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Treated wastewater from the plant is discharged into the Kymi River (Kymijoki), which flows southward and empties into the Gulf of Finland, part of the Baltic Sea.
As a Finnish plant serving over 10,000 population equivalents, TP 359 operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment and, in sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal. Finland's national legislation implements these requirements.
For plants of this scale in Finland, secondary biological treatment is standard, often with phosphorus removal to meet strict discharge limits aimed at protecting the Baltic Sea. Many plants also incorporate nitrogen removal to reduce eutrophication.
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