What people don’t know about their water

If you’re not an industry expert, here’s why you should care about water.

Industrial sites are not usually a place for children. But back when I was still in school, my class visited a wastewater treatment facility in Helsinki. I was seriously impressed by the labyrinth of tunnels and equipment, all built under solid granite. I learned the basics about what happens when you flush the toilet and how clean water gets to your tap. Being a kid, it was also fun to see the collection of weird objects that had been caught by the equipment ─ stuff like toys, which definitely shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet.

“Most people in the developed world are blissfully unaware of where their water comes from.”

Today I work for Kemira, a company that provides solutions for water treatment. What I experienced a long time ago now makes much more sense and I can see the bigger picture, like how our water cycle is linked to health and environmental issues, including climate change (more on that later).

But I’m in the minority. The truth is that most people in the developed world are blissfully unaware of where their water comes from. This is especially true in places like Finland, where fresh water is abundant. We are fortunate there are no urgent issues with our water supply. In fact, 97% of people in Finland trust their drinking water according to a recent survey. This is an amazing figure. Few people from other countries can relate. In the US, 40% of Americans say they don’t trust their tap water at home. 

Luckily, Finns’ trust in the local water supply is warranted. The country has some of the world’s best. Most people turn on the tap and don’t give it a second thought. However, I’m concerned that this can have a dangerous side effect: complacency.

70% of Finns ages 18-25 have said they don’t know where their water comes from or what happens to it after they use it. People in other age groups claim to know more, but do they? Water is rarely in the news or high on the public agenda. Yet, delivering clean water to every Finnish home takes over a hundred thousand kilometers of piping, more than 1,000 water treatment plants for drinking water and sewage treatment combined, thousands of scientists, engineers and operators, and continuous public and private investments. Pumping and treating all this water also uses up energy. One topic which is on everyone’s mind is climate change, so we need to make sure that we use water efficiently and don’t waste the energy needed to supply safe water.

“We cannot afford to take water for granted anymore. It may seem like it, but water doesn’t just come out of a tap, so to speak.”

Essential for life

It goes without saying that people need water to live. In fact, your body is about 60% water. It helps regulate your temperature, carry nutrients and oxygen to your cells, lubricate joints and tissues, and flush waste from your body. People can only live about three days without it. (You can live up to three weeks without food.)

“Not only is water essential for health, it lubricates our economy.”

Water also plays an important role in public health. Think about what’s happening to communities without access to clean water during the pandemic. Transmissions rates are higher because people cannot wash their hands — something you likely do quite easily several times a day. 

Not only is water essential for health, it lubricates our economy. According to the World Water Council, agriculture alone accounts for nearly 70% of water use globally and another 20% is used by industry to make the goods and services we all buy. Clearly, managing water resources is not just about turning off the tap while you brush your teeth. It’s also about the choices made by industry and the choices you make every day as a consumer.

With an abundance of water in Finland, sectors rarely compete over water like they sometimes do in other countries. However, what worries me is not so much our current situation; it’s where we could be heading.

A drop in our rising ocean

I’m sure you know water is limited. Let me put it in perspective. Most of the water on Earth is saltwater and most of the limited freshwater is locked up as ice. So only 1% of the water on Earth is freshwater readily available for human use (not to mention use by other animals and plants). 

“Around the world, climate change is making water availability less predictable. Water is now more often in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Even that 1% of water has its challenges: climate change, urbanization and pollution. Those are the three main water-related issues that I focus on in my work right now as the sustainability director for Kemira.

Around the world, climate change is making water availability less predictable. Water is now more often in the wrong place at the wrong time. For instance, in Europe we are seeing increased flooding, including much more severe floods. On the opposite side of the spectrum, places like California and South Africa are experiencing severe and prolonged drought. Even in places like Germany, where water was historically abundant, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to access. Climate adaption will require new strategies from governments and water utilities to ensure consistent availability of clean water.

The second challenge is urbanization. A growing middle class and more people living in cities mean higher demand for water and water treatment. Many cities have reached the maximum design capacity of their wastewater treatment facilities. As a result, any spikes (like those caused by a storm) will cause contaminated water to overflow into our lakes, rivers and seas. A recent four-year study in Finland found microplastics in every single class of organism sampled from our seas and lakes. When wastewater is treated properly, almost all microplastics can be removed. But when wastewater overflows before it can be treated, that plastic ends up in our environment. Clearly, we need to do better. We need to make sure waste does not reach the water and that any wastewater is always treated. That requires increased investments in waste collection, recycling and wastewater treatment solutions that can deal with spikes in demand.

Finally, despite many people being more environmentally conscious, our society still struggles with pollution. Industrial pollution levels have dropped across Finland and most of Europe, but issues remain – not just here, around the world. 

Exactly where your water comes from 

Rest assured, Finnish water remains world class. Remember: there are thousands of people making sure the tap water is top quality. But maybe there are some specific things you would like to know about your water. I am pretty sure Finns ages 18-25 aren’t the only ones who have questions.

One basic thing you might like to know is where your water comes from. If you happen to be my neighbor in Helsinki, your water is supplied by Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY).

If you live in Finland and want to know about the status of surface or ground water in your area, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) offers a cool interactive map you can investigate.

 Protecting our water

I hope the next time you reach for a glass of water, you feel more knowledgeable about this precious resource. Maybe you will even feel grateful. I do.

“As an individual, you can consume more thoughtfully and make sure you dispose of waste correctly.”

I also hope you will occasionally think about the challenges facing our local and global water supplies. I remember, as a child, I was told I could drink straight from the lake at my grandparent’s summer house in central Finland. Sadly, I‘m not comfortable giving my children the same advice today. But we are still lucky. Unlike millions of people around the world, drinking untreated water straight from a lake or river is not our only option. We are extremely fortunate to have reliable, clean water coming out of our tap every day without fail. As a society, we should not take that for granted. We should not be complacent.

So how can we protect water, especially when it doesn’t feel like an urgent issue in Finland? What can we do in the face of complacency, climate change and other challenges? We have a joint responsibility.

We need to work together. As an individual, you can consume more thoughtfully and make sure you dispose of waste correctly. For example, by recycling plastic, you help reduce the amount that washes into our lakes and seas. The government can help by deploying technologies linked to waste and water management, as well as by enforcing water-related regulations. Finally, the private sector can help by reducing its water consumption and by deploying both waste collection and state-of-the-art wastewater management systems.

In short, your choices make a difference for people in your community and around the world. To borrow a common slogan: Think before you drink!