From Polluted to Swimmable Waters: Tampere City Water and Sewage Works, 1835-1998

As early as the 1830s, water was pumped from the lake above the city and led via a wooden pipe to the centre of Tampere. In the 1860s, a businessman suggested that a privately held waterworks be constructed, but a city-owned works was preferred. A gravity system began distributing water in 1882, followed by a high-pressure system in 1898. The first phase of a sewerage system was completed in 1894. The bodies of water upstream and downstream from the City of Tampere deteriorated during the 1950s and 1960s but recovered surprisingly fast after the introduction of efficient water pollution control. Groundwater utilization was suggested in the 1910s, implemented partly since the 1950s, and may be followed by artificial recharge by 2010. Experiences from both water supply and water pollution control in the case of Tampere indicates that foreign solutions as such do not suit Finnish conditions. Applied development and research are needed. The role of public relations and education is becoming increasingly important as we enter the 21st century.