Kaksi ihmistä tutkii puroon lisättyjä kiviä.

Tips for Municipalities

Kunnat ja kaupungit ovat avaintoimijoita vesistöjen tilan parantamisessa. Ne päättävät alueidensa maankäytöstä, vesienhallinnasta, jäteasioista, luonnonsuojelualueista ja ympäristökasvatuksesta.

Examples of Actions

Lähes kaikki Suomen kunnat ovat Itämeren valuma-alueella. Kaukaisetkin sisämaan järvet, joet ja purot ovat usein kytköksissä Itämereen. Kun sisämaan kunnat suojelevat omia lähivesiä, osallistuvat ne myös Itämeren suojeluun. Alta voit lukea lyhyesti, millaisiin teemoihin kunnat voivat keskittyä parantaakseen vesistöjen tilaa. Monet toimet vahvistavat myös esimerkiksi ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutumista ja luonnon monimuotoisuutta. Helsinki ja Turku ovat kehittäneet, testanneet ja ottaneet käyttöön monenlaisia vesiensuojelutoimenpiteitä. Jos kuntasi kaipaa apua toimien suunnittelussa, ole rohkeasti yhteydessä.

Water Management

Stormwater carries nutrients and harmful substances into water bodies, making stormwater management a key Baltic Sea action. Municipalities can reduce the load by implementing retention and infiltration solutions, promoting green roofs and permeable surfaces, and guiding properties to adopt their own stormwater measures. Prepare clear guidelines and integrate stormwater management into land-use planning and building permits. This helps prevent flooding and improves water quality.

In Finland, wastewater treatment is centralised in municipal or regional wastewater treatment plants, many of which serve multiple municipalities. However, municipalities can provide guidance—especially to properties outside sewer networks—on appropriate wastewater systems and requirements, and carry out inspections related to supervision. In addition, municipalities can promote the use of phosphate-free detergents through their own operations and communication, and campaign for nutrient recycling and responsible everyday choices.

More detailed guidance and tips on water management can be found here:

Guide on the development and governance of water services by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (in Finnish)
City of Helsinki stormwater programme (in Finnish)
City of Turku guide on stormwater management for detached house yards (in Finnish)
Valonia’s guidance on planning and implementing stormwater solutions (in Finnish)

Sustainable Procurements

Municipal procurement policies influence environmental outcomes. Prefer eco-labelled products, reduce harmful chemicals, and promote the use of recycled materials. Develop procurement criteria that include impacts on water bodies, and train staff in responsible choices.

In unclear or new procurement situations, municipalities can organise market dialogues to discuss sustainability and water-related criteria with suppliers in advance, including their feasibility and effectiveness. This ensures that the requirements are both ambitious and realistic from a market perspective, and that they support environmental objectives.

Explore these materials in more detail:

Increase and Protection of the Biodiversity

Municipalities can enhance both terrestrial and underwater biodiversity in urban environments in many ways, for example by creating new habitats, planting pollinator-friendly and native plant species, reducing mowing, and restoring streams, shorelines, and fish spawning and nursery areas.

Organise litter-picking events and invasive species removal together with residents and, for example, schools to increase participation and awareness.

Urban planning can also utilise the blue-green factor. While it does not in itself guarantee biodiversity, it ensures the physical conditions needed for it.

Strengthening biodiversity often also contributes positively to climate change mitigation.

More tips can be found in the following materials:

- Ministry of the Environment biodiversity website
- City of Turku LUMO programme
- City of Helsinki LUMO programme (in Finnish)
- City of Turku blue-green factor (in Finnish)
- City of Turku and Valonia invasive species guide for residents 2025 (in Finnish)
- City of Turku article on nature-friendly yard management (in Finnish)

Inclusion and Communication

The municipality’s role also includes inspiring residents, businesses and other local stakeholders to care for nearby nature. Organise campaigns, theme days and training sessions that highlight the importance of the Baltic Sea and concrete actions. Communicate openly about the municipality’s own achievements on websites and social media.

Remember to measure and monitor the impacts of your actions, as these are easy to communicate. For example, the area of established meadows or the number of participants in volunteer events are concrete and engaging information for residents and other stakeholders.