Ministry of Environment approved a three Year Nitrogen removal project improving the water quality in Tallinn Bay and the Baltic Sea In 2003 ASTV and The Ministry of Environment agreed a contract to reduce the amount of Nitrogen discharged to Tallinn Bay by 25%. Between 2003 and 2006 ASTV invested over 32 milliion kroons to modify and modernise the wastewater treatment plant at Paljassaare to achieve the new targets. After a year of testing the Ministry of Environment has now approved the success of the project with the results exceeding their expectations. Based on the measurements carried out the Company has outperformed this key environmental target and achieved in 2006 a 37% reduction in the amount of Nitrogen discharged. As a result AS Tallinna Vesi is now able to release the 13,3 million EEK provision on the pollution charge, that the Company would have been required to pay if the project had not been a success. Nitrogen is a plant nutrient and its presence in sea water can contribute to algal blooms and a deterioration in the sea water quality. The Paljassaare nitrogen project received recognition from the Baltic Sea protection committee HELCOM by removing Tallinn from its hotspots in June 2006. Since the Baltic Sea was one of the most polluted seas in the world, all cities on the sea have to reduce the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus discharged to the sea. The Baltic Sea Action Plan has set a target to solve all problems related to hotspots, one of the most serious being wastewater going to the sea, within at least 20 years. In removing more Nitrogen from the Paljassare plant Tallinn has exceeded these requirements. According to Ellen Mihklepp, the Wastewater Treatment Manager of Tallinna Vesi, “the incoming pollution content of the wastewater treated in Paljassaare has steadily increased year by year and the standards for nitrogen in the effluent have, at the same time, become more stringent. The company is committed to meeting and exceeding all EU environmental standards and significant investment was needed to modify and modernise the plant and achieve the required standards.” The Paljassaare nitrogen project has been one of the key environmental projects of the company. However, the investments in Paljassaare are still ongoing. A further large project is currently underway improving the processing of sludge resulting from sewage treatment process. The works to be performed are associated with construction of new compost fields that are almost complete and the building of a new sludge dewatering plant. The Company is already today producing a high-quality and environment-friendly fertiliser and has stopped depositing sludge to landfills and the investments will continue to protect the environment in the years to come. Paljassaare WWTP treats all wastewater and stormwater collected from Tallinn and its surrounding areas by using environmentally friendly processes. As the pollution loads coming into the plant continue to increase and with AS Tallinna Vesi's development activity and the targeted provision of good quality wastewater treatment services to the surrounding areas, the Company will keep under constant review the performance of the plant and plan future investment needs. More information: Reigo Marosov Avalike suhete juht Tel. +372 6262 209 reigo.marosov@tvesi.ee
Ministry on Environment approved ASTV investments in the water quality in Tallinn Bay
| Source: Tallinna Vesi