Kemira made a commitment to act for the protection of the Baltic Sea with the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) in 2009. Tools employed in this are the promotion of nutrient recycling and the generation of further information.
The Baltic Sea is a shallow and small body of water and a large amount of nutrients from agriculture, industry and wastewater have accumulated in its marine sediments. To combat eutrophication it is important to reduce the load of phosphorus and to recycle recovered nutrients for use in food production. Aija Jantunen is the head of Kemira’s Municipal & Industrial segment’s operations in Finland and the Baltic countries. She regards it as vital for the protection of the Baltic Sea that as many players as possible take an interest in the issue.
How does Kemira participate in Baltic Sea protection with the BSAG?
Kemira and others participating in Baltic Sea action provide information about successful measures and new opportunities for sludge treatment and safe recycling of nutrients. We are also an expert member in a Finnish working group on nutrient recycling appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment, which submitted its report in March.
How have Kemira’s actions helped the Baltic Sea?
We have introduced chemical precipitation of phosphorus in almost every country around the Baltic Sea, and in some countries we have also participated in sourcing funding for dosing equipment. The acquisition of precipitation equipment has been supported by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and the John Nurminen Foundation. Chemical precipitation has helped achieve results including an annual reduction of almost 1,000 tonnes in the Baltic Sea phosphorus load from discharges in the St. Petersburg area.
Which other actions could be taken or intensified further?
For example, Kemira’s KemiCond and DesinFix methods could be employed more extensively. Once treated using KemiCond, sludge is free from pathogens and can be applied to fields. DesinFix can be used to disinfect swimming waters in the Baltic region. Kemira has also made a commitment to develop solutions for the removal of organic contaminants from wastewater before they end up in water bodies.
Related products
KemiCond
DesinFix
Text: Johanna Paasikangas-Tella