Water and Environmental Engineering

The URBAN team combines expertise in water monitoring, design and testing of technical solutions, geoinformatics and co-creation to support the adaptation of nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban stormwater management. The team’s goal is to increase the use of NBS for stormwater management in urban and peri-urban areas to increase the resilience of the urban hydrologic cycle to climate change, including extremes as flood and drought, support the preservation and restoration of habitats and biodiversity and support wellbeing of residents.

To achieve this goal, the team closely cooperates with local and regional stakeholders and international partners to find the optimal solutions the environmental and socio-economic conditions in Southwest Finland. The team works in synergy with the Water Protection and Restoration team.

The team’s research, development and innovation actions include:

• Planning and implementation of technical (NBS) solutions,
• Seeking multiple benefits from NBS such as biodiversity and wellbeing,
• Stakeholder dialogue and engagement
• Co-creation activities
• Data integration, spatial analyses and stormwater modelling
• Monitoring of stormwater systems (natural and engineered)
• Education and training in stormwater management practices

Publications

• Khadka A., Kokkonen T., Koivusalo H., Niemi T., Leskinen P., Körber J-H. (2021): Stormflow against streamflow – Can LID-provided storage capacity ensure performance efficiency and maintenance of pre-development flow regime? Journal of Hydrology 2021
• Laaksonlaita J., Vilminko H., Huhta A. (2021): Turun kaupunkipurojen ekologiset seurannat 2017-2019
• Vilminko H., Leskinen P., Kaseva A., Auranen J. (2021): Current status of management of stormwater systems and solutions in four Baltic Sea countries. Reports from Turku University of Applied Sciences 279
• Huhta E., Hämäläinen J. (2020): Kaupunkipurot – Kaupunkiemme arvokkaat pienvedet.
• Huhta E., Komulainen M. (2020): Kaupunkipurot tarjoavat virkistystä ja ekosysteemipalveluita
• Leskinen P., Laaksonlaita J., Körber Jan-Hendrik, Yliruusi H. (2016): New knowledge on Diffuse Load Monitoring – State of art review. Baltic Flows 2016

Other materials

• Leskinen P., Vilminko H. (2021): Onnistuneen biosuodatusrakenteen elementit. Infograph.
• Huhta E. (2020): HEAWATER – Puhtaampia pienvesistöjä. Video. (English subtitles available)

While monitoring the water quality in urban streams in Turku city since 2011, we noticed that a significant proportion of pollution loading was originating from construction sites. Even though one project lasts for a limited time period, at any given time there are numerous construction projects of different sizes ongoing in the city. At that time, in Finnish cities there was generally still no water management requirements for construction sites. In 2014 we started collaboration with the cities of Kaarina and Turku with the aim of getting more information of the actual loading from different types of construction activities as well as developing tools and training for cities to reduce the negative impacts of construction activities on urban water bodies and existing infrastructure. Since then, we have continued the work within several different projects.

Results from the projects

• Construction site stormwater management guide for construction companies:  Työmaavesien hallinnan ohje rakennusalan ammattilaisille (In Finnish) & Työmaavesien hallintarakenteet (In Finnish)
• A study of loading of hazardous substances and mitigation measures from demolition sites: Purkutyömaiden työmaavedet ja niiden hallinta 2021 (Master’s thesis)
• A study on mitigation measures of infrastructure construction sites in clay soils 
• A construction site water management guide for Turku city: Turun kaupungin työmaavesiopas 2017 (In Finnish) 

Publications

• Vilminko H., Auranen J. (2022): Työmaavesien kuormitus ja kuormituksen raja-arvot
• Vilminko et al. (2022): Työmaavesien laadunhallinta haltuun – Opas kaupungeille ja kunnille
• Leskinen P., Vilminko H. (2019): Rakennustyömaiden vesienhallinnan keinoja savimailla (s.35). Vesitalous 2/2019

The URBAN group has significant experience in planning and implementing hazardous substances reduction measures together with the public sector i.e., municipalities. Since hazardous substances emissions originate from multiple sources, our management approach must be diverse. The team has delivered a range of activities that contribute to the improved hazardous substances management, including hazardous substances screening, stakeholder training, supporting green public procurement and developing and testing of filter structures. 

Monitoring of hazardous substances in urban storm waters and municipal wastewater

The URBAN team has participated in several national and international R&D projects that has been monitoring hazardous substances occurrence in urban storm water and municipal wastewater. Team has experienced and licensed staff for sampling and modern monitoring equipment. Often screening activities are required to set a baseline and/or targets for reduction measures for example in a municipality or in a company.

Development of training about hazardous substances management for municipality employees

Successful hazardous substances management requires that all levels of our society are well informed about the risks they pose to our health and environment. The URBAN Team has developed and tested training materials and training for example for municipalities to bridge the knowledge gap of municipality employees.  You can get familiar with the training for Finnish municipal eco-supporters and the chemical training in English. To be able to engage different target groups, our team has experiences in utilization of pedagogical tools like Innopeda.  

Support for public procurers for Implementation of green public procurement and chemical smart public procurement

The URBAN team has strong experiences in chemical smart public procurement and green public procurement. URBAN team is an author of Guide for Chemical Smart Public Procurement and team has provided expertise and implemented trainings for Finnish national voluntary green deal agreement for municipalities concerning reduction of hazardous chemicals in pre-school procurements. 

Publications

Kiviluoto K., Leskinen P., Yliruusi H. (2018): Haitalliset aineet kaupunkiympäristössä: – Kaupunkien vähentämistoimenpiteiden askelmerkit. Ympäristö ja terveys 2/2018

Lankiniemi S., Kontturi K., Leskinen P., Yliruusi H. (2018): Kemikaaliviisaan hankkijan opas. Turun kaupunki, 2018

Materials

Juha Kääriä’s presentation “Innovative Water Circulation in Turku region SW Finland”  in Baltic University Programme Symposium 2020

Excessive external nutrient load leading to eutrophication is one of the most common challenges in Finnish surface waters. Functionable water protection measures are required to tackle this issue. Turku University of Applied Sciences has carried out studies to provide needed information on the effectiveness and operation of agricultural and forestry load reduction measures. In addition, several research and development projects have been implemented to create new and more efficient water protection measures. 

Experts of the Water protection and restoration team have executed RDI-projects on different load reduction measures such as constructed wetlands, chemical phosphorus precipitation in streams, agricultural drainage treatment with biochar filtration and structure lime. Effects and operation of lake restauration measures have also been studied by the team. For example, the operation of aeration units at Lake Kakskerta was studied during in 2009.      

Direct phosphorus precipitation

Possibilities of the chemical phosphorus precipitation have been studied in small nutrient load hotspot diches as well as in small river scale. Projects Active Wetland, Waterchain and Phosphorus precipitation in streams provided important information on the operation and efficiency of the direct P precipitation of running water bodies. It was shown that direct phosphorus precipitation is efficient way to convert readily algae available dissolved phosphorus into non algae available form. However, caution is needed in the dosing of the chemical to avoid harmful pH changes in the water body.     

Structure lime

Structure lime is an example of nutrient load source control measure. This agricultural load reduction measure is fit for clay soils with poor soil structure. The effectiveness of the measure has been studied in the project Structure lime as agricultural water protection measure.  

The study was carried out in cooperation with multiple research organizations, and it was funded by Finnish environmental ministry. The project included laboratory studies as well as field test in catchment area and field scale. First results are very promising, and studies continue at field study sites to provide reliable information on the measures long term effectiveness.     

Julkaisut

• Kaseva A., Laine K., Ajosenpää T., Niemi J., Mononen M. 2020: Biohiili- ja hakesuodattamo salaojavesien käsittelyssä : pilotoinnin tulosraportti 2019.
• Kaseva A., Vainio L., Jantunen M., Nurminen H. 2017: Fosforin saostaminen virtavedestä – pilottihanke Paattistenjoella 

The utilization of common reed (Phragmites australis) has been interdisciplinarily examined from several different perspectives at Turku University of Applied Sciences since 2005. Utilizing reedbeds could help in creating new livelihoods such as providing reedbed removal services and produce building materials, biofuels or soil improvers made of reed. The common reed biomass is also rich in nutrients and can be used in substrates and as biofertilizer or feed. 

The versatile use of common reed is due to the many good properties of this natural material. As an aquatic plant common reed is waterproof, has a thermal insulation capacity comparable to industrial insulation, has a calorific value comparable to wood and it also insulates sound. Common reed’s life cycle is environmentally friendly and sufficient, as the plant is renewing every year. 

Harvesting of common reed is not part of everyman’s rights. Obtaining cutting permits from water area owners and shareholders has become a bottleneck, although there is a willingness to remove reeds, ownership of the shores is very fragmented. A part of the reed projects is working on the licensing and developing new procedures to get the harvesting up and running. 

The common reed database can be found on the Finnish authority of Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment website: Ruoko – Järviruo’on tietopankki 

Team provides water protection planning services and participates in water protection planning activities as part of RDI projects. Team executes water protection planning from single constructed wetlands to catchment area level load reduction plans. In Southwest Finland, you can find number of agricultural wetlands planned by team’s experts. One example of catchment area level planning is Uusikaupunki freshwater reservoir and Sirppujoki, where various water quality and quantity challenges and different interests have been addressed with management plan and landowner handbooks.           

Wetland planning

The team has long time experience in constructed wetland planning and research. Team has planned wetlands that retain nutrients and hazardous substances, while increasing biodiversity or providing habitats to bird of fish species. Site specific possibilities and restrictions are taken in account in wetland planning to ensure operational wetland. Turku University of Applied Sciences provides planning services carried out by team experts. In addition, wetland planning can be done by students as a part of their studies or final theses. Several multifunctional wetlands have also been planned and build in research and development projects such as Lisäarvoa kotikosteikosta. 

Publications

• Alho P., Kaseva A., Vaahtoranta T. 2022: Uudenkaupungin makeavesialtaan käyttö- ja hoitosuunnitelma
• Kaseva A., Niemi J., Mononen., Laine K., Ajosenpää T., Alho P., Popova M. 2020: Suosituksia Sirppujoen alajuoksun tulvasuojeluun ja -haittoihin sopeutumiseen
• Kanerva-Lehto H., 2017: Pohjapadot kosteikoissa ja laskeutusaltaissa, Turun ammattikorkeakoulu 2017.