Overview
TP 590 of Pelkosenniemi kk is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Pelkosenniemi, Lappi, Finland, serving approximately 5,000 people. It discharges 819.48 cubic meters of treated effluent annually.
TP 590 of Pelkosenniemi kk is a wastewater treatment facility located in Pelkosenniemi, a municipality in the Lappi region of northern Finland. The plant serves a population of about 5,000 residents, reflecting the scale of a small agglomeration in a sparsely populated area. Its location in the Finnish Lapland places it in a region characterized by cold climate and sensitive natural environments. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size, the directive mandates secondary treatment, but Finland often applies stricter standards, especially in areas with sensitive receiving waters. The advanced treatment likely includes nutrient removal to protect downstream ecosystems. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Baltic Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with eutrophication challenges. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, supporting the ecological health of the region's rivers and the Gulf of Bothnia. As part of Finland's commitment to the Helsinki Convention (HELCOM), the facility contributes to Baltic Sea protection.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters local watercourses in the Kemijoki river basin, which flows into the Gulf of Bothnia, part of the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is highly sensitive to nutrient pollution, and advanced treatment at this plant helps mitigate eutrophication. The surrounding region includes boreal forests and peatlands, which naturally filter runoff but also contribute organic matter to waterways. The plant's nutrient removal supports the ecological balance of these cold-water ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Pelkosenniemi, a municipality in the Lappi region of northern Finland, at address 141, Arvospuolentie.
The plant serves approximately 5,000 people, representing a small agglomeration in the Finnish Lapland.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses within the Kemijoki river basin, which ultimately flows into the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea.
The EU directive requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of 5,000 people. TP 590 employs advanced treatment, exceeding the minimum standard, which is common in Finland to protect sensitive Baltic Sea waters.
In Finland, plants of this scale typically use biological treatment with nutrient removal, often advanced treatment, to meet strict national standards and HELCOM recommendations for Baltic Sea protection.
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