PROJECT TITLE (in English) Vital Vaasa - Pilot framework and action programme for
revitalisation of the water cycle in an urban landscape structure
AIM OF THE PROJECT AND ANTICIPATED RESULTS
Tavoitteena on testata ja kehittää veden kierron elvyttämisen menetelmiä urbaanissa maisemarakenteessa
käyttäen uusia tekniikoita sekä luoda malleja käsitellä tähän liittyviä ongelmia suunnittelussa ja toteutuksessa.
Tässä yhteydessä kehitetään myös uusia sadeveden puhdistuksen ja hyötykäytön ekologisia menetelmiä.
Kohdealueena on kolme valuma-aluetta. Samalla luodaan uusia osallistumis- ja yhteistyömalleja.
AIM OF THE PROJECT AND ANTICIPATED RESULTS
The aim is to test and develop methods for the revitalisation of the water cycle in an urban landscape structure
by using new techniques and creating models to tackle relevant problems in planning and implementation.
Also new ecological methods for cleaning and reusing rainwater are evolved. Three urban water catchment
areas constitutes the target area. The project creates new network models for participation and co-operation in
town planning.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
1. Context of the project
1.1 Presentation of the proposer
The proposer of the project is the City of Vaasa. Vaasa is a coastal and, from a Finnish perspective, mediumsized town with 56 000 inhabitants. The annual city budget is about FIM 1 900 millions, from which
approximately FIM 45 millions are allocated to environmental measures.
The main partners in the proposed project are:
a) Vaasa Polytechnic, which is owned by the City.
b) The Ostrobothnian Regional Council, Whose authority reaches over the whole Vaasa Coastal Region with
some 175 000 inhabitants
c) West Finland Regional Environment Centre, which is a regional state-governed agency. Its authority covers
the Vaasa Coastal Region, Middle and South Ostrobothnia regions with a total of about 500 000 inhabitants.
d) Helsinki University of Technology offering the highest education in landscaping and water technology in
Finland.
e) GreenRock and KWH-Pipe are private enterprises producing environmentally friendly filter and piping
device.
f) Vaasa’s Orthodox Parish with own estate including a church on the target area.
The Vaasa Region is part of the catchment area of the Baltic Sea. The intense land elevation and the
phenomena it creates especially around the Kvarken (the narrowest part of the Gulf of Bothnia) partly forms
the region’s natural conditions. The Kvarken is also an interesting area from a marine biology perspective. The
waters are shallow and light and thus biologically exceptionally productive. Vaasa is the area’s largest town. It
was founded in 1606 around the oldest harbour and trading point in Ostrobothnia. In 1852 Vaasa burned to the
ground and in 1862 the new town of Vaasa was built along the new coastline, some 7 km from the old town on
the Klemetsö promontory, which had earlier been an island (see annex 1).
The idea and preparation of the Vital Vaasa project was conceived and set in motion by the project partners in
1996 as a part of the Umbrella Project Vaasa Vista. The partners accepted the centre of Vaasa as a very
suitable target area for setting up a project concerning the revitalisation of the water cycle in urban landscape
structure. Although, on a European scale, the population of Vaasa is small, the centre of the town is
remarkably urban.
The project partners are made up of various types of organisations: Vaasa polytechnic, an expert in
educational matters, which includes the oldest polytechnical institute in Finland; The Ostrobothnian Regional
Council, a developmental organisation for the region, with expertise in spatial planning; the West Finland
Regional Environment Centre, which represents regional environmental and land-use administration and
expertise; Helsinki University of Technology representing highest Finnish expertise in landscaping and water
technology; GreenRock and KWH-Pipe represent professional, commercial piping enterprises; the
Universities of Amsterdam and Abertay Dundee represent international piping and sewer expertise and
Vaasa’s Orthodox Parish, whose estate and church are located on the of the landscape structure.
1.2 Context of the problem
In Finland, industrialisation and urbanisation has mainly occurred since the Second World War. Migration has
mainly been in a southerly direction, but the smaller northern towns of Finland have also seen very
considerable changes. Ideals of town structure, economic development and increases in traffic have changed
the former lowwooden town center into heavily built-up and asphalted centres. Technical infrastructure has
developed to an internationally high standard.
The phenomenon of urbanisation with its modern techniques has taken place all over Europe.
The vitality and bio-diversity of the natural environment, landscape structure and ecological balance has been
forced into retreat in the process. Twenty years of rapid urbanisation is now being seen in environmental
damage. For example the groundwater level in Vaasa is today about 10 meters lower than it used to be. Strong
underground building makes the problem extremely challenging. Both groundwater and rainwater in urban
city are acided causing acidity problems in the littorine area of the Baltic Sea. Concerning the Baltic Sea even
small improvements are of great importance, because especially around Vaasa area bays and other waterways
are shallow. Only rain and drainage water is led into the Baltic Sea without cleaning in Finland, so it is the
next challenge to develop cleaning systems and methods for them. This is also a preventive measure against
the pollution producing blue-green algae.
The center of Vaasa is a good target area, because the geographical position of Vaasa makes the problems
clearer than elsewhere. Regional geology, land elevation, the Nordic climate and natural conditions, strong
winds etc, put great demands on the tolerance of the natural environment.
The original town plan of Vaasa, from the year 1862, paid attention to the landscape structure despite the grid
layout of the first plan, but above-explained development of the town structure has destroyed the original
ideas. Activity planning and building of infrastructure always demands attention to local circumstances and to
the natural environment as an organism. To observe, trough studies and testing, the interaction between the
organic and inorganic natural environment and the urban town structure demands networking. Co-operation
among the different parties and professionals concerned with various activities in the planning and
implementation of building projects is to be strengthened in the area.
In town planning and building work, a standard method of considering projects from an environmental point
of view has not yet been implemented. Economic obstacles have also had an impact slowing down
implementation of environmental consideration and testing, as these obstacles have contributed to the lack of
measures for evaluating long-term environmental costs and benefits.
In practise, progress in getting to grips with the revitalisation of the watercycle in urban landscape structure
has been very modest in Finland. Very little has been done and only from smaller or different point of views.
The problem has not yet been fully addressed in any town in Finland. In some areas within the European
Union revitalisation of the water cycle in urban landscape structure has been touched upon when new areas
have been built but not in already exploited areas. At least there have not been any studies in areas similar to
the centre of Vaasa, which is very compact and heavily exploited. Research and literature on the subject is also
very minimal globally.
The Vital Vaasa project will focus mainly on the hydrological cycle and problems connected with ecological
landscape structure in revitalisation of water cycle in urban landscape structure. The project will be
implemented as a pilot planning and action programme. It will also be connected to Vaasa’s LOCAL
AGENDA 21programme, especially the parts concerning tolerance limits of urban nature and landscape
structure.
2. Detailed description
2.1 The technical nature of the project
The project in question is a pilot and model setting programme for revitalisation of heavily exploited urban
town center landscape structure vital functions with help of water cycle restoration. The aim of the project is
to develop new technics and planning methods for infiltration system of rain water through concrete
realisation experiment and theoretical planning target. Both the planning and the realisation targets are located
in small and narrow catchment areas with various kind of town activities. The concrete experiment includes
both underground and surficial water basins, infiltration fields and various kind infiltrating surfaces for streets
and house yards, retaining works of pipe dugouts and perforation of existing pipes. Also a deep-rooted
vegetation is used to raise ground water level.
For insulating of foundations of existing buildings a different kind of methods are used, also pumping of the
rain water to the use of productive areas is included. This aims to create a new kind living ecological isles in to
exploited environment which will give more green and lush attractiveness for the town.
A various kind filters, productive basins and cleaners made of punches of willow branches are tested in
cleaning processes.
The impacts of concrete actions are measured from ground water level changes and ground water flows. Also
quality and amount of exploitable and out of pipes coming rainwaters will be measured.
Digital 3D-terrain model with altitude contour of terrain, bedrock, soil and ground water surfaces is to be
carried out. This enables projecting of real time profiles from any place in planning area. The height and
deepness of underground cellars and foundations are shown in profiles. Also the data of underground pipes
and cables is included in model.
The required changes and actions for landscape structure revitalisation and land use are planned with help of
the terrain model.
The basic structure of landscape, especially its watershed areas, is the backbone of a living natural
environmental organism also in an urban setting. The city centre of Vaasa is located on a former island, which
now is part of the mainland and divided into three parts: ridge areas (watershed areas), slopes and valleys (see
annex 2).
All these subareas have their special characteristics form the point of the productive capacity of the natural
environment and ability to tolerate man-made functions. Each site has its own function and ecological
responsibility in this hierarchy. Pilot cases of the project are primarily selected to represent the phenomena of
the landscape structure and its hierarchy, secondly focusing on the needs of town structure. New technological
ideas will be tested on six case areas in three catchment areas. The targets located on a former military area in
top of the ridge are chosen because they represent the old original wooden City of Vaasa which is waiting for
new challenges. This enables to take new principles in to the realisation of natures revitalisation. All
participants in planning, from organisations to the inhabitants can take part in realisation. The littoral valley
area has been chosen as a target area because it is very challenging target which represents heavily exploited
urban environment where means of natures revitalisation must be studied and planned very carefully. The area
consist also of many kind land use patterns, from housing to the commercial and industrial blocks. At same
time, the ecological know-how will be increased and supported by giving directed professional further
education in the form of specially tailored courses, seminars and mass meetings. In addition, there will be
opportunities offered to follow up the project through the information given and delivered through the Internet
web pages on the issue.
2.2 Technical description of the project
In annex 3 is a map of the centre of Vaasa where phases of the project are marked according to their task
number, which will help the reader in following this presentation of the technical description.
2.2.1. Terrain model, survey of groundwater, soil and bedrock
The first step is to prepare a numerical terrain model using air photo interpretation and stereophonic plotting
technic. The air photo was taken in May 1998 by city of Vaasa. Air photos will be interpreted with analytical
stereophonic measurement device ( for example, ZEISS PLANICOMP P3), this enables making terrain model
three-dimensional. The materials will be engaged to Vaasa’s coordinate system and saved to XSTREET
planning software. Information about cellars and foundations, rain water sewage and other dug-outs will be
examined and transformed, after check measurements, in to geographical information system.
The information of bedrock and soil will be collected from records and after supplement drillings information
is transformed in to the ground survey registry. The level of groundwater and flowing of the groundwater are
find out by groundwater pipe surveys. As a result, the impacts of exploited infrastructure in geodiversity are
found out and the locations of different soil types and groundwater level surface are found out as well. The
terrain model includes exact data on heights of soil, bedrock, soil types and groundwater level. Therefore it
enables profiles from above mentioned surfaces, cellars, foundations and the use of ortophoto as planningbase.
The results are needed as a basic data to the ecological renewal of city, especially for the planning and
realisation of water cycle revitalisation. The terrainmodels in Sweden and realisation of rainwater infiltration
in newly built areas in Germany (Hannover, Hamburg) are used as a comparison targets.
2.2.2 The planning of the littoral valley
The valley goes through the area of multistore buildings, Vaasa towncentre , railway-yard, industrial site and
artificial shore. The objective of planning is to model revitalisation of water cycle in urban catchment area in
land use planning. In addition, the collection of rainwater to practical applications like heating, irrigation and
grey water are planned as well. The size of valleys catchment area is about 30 hectares.
The planning is very challenging because the area is very densely built and there is not many green areas. The
files of terrain model are in key position because there has been done large modifications in terrain like cutting
of bedrock for underground parking and cellars underneath of market place and office buildings.
The aim is to exploit water as a town ecological and visual element in entire valley depression area. The land
owners are mainly from private sector and therefore planning requires plentiful negotiations and
communications. The students of landscape- architecture and water technology from the Helsinki university of
technology and students in Vaasa Polytechnic are connected to planning. The city of Vaasa is responsible for
integer planning.
2.2.3 The revitalisation of water cycle in two urban catchment area
The objective is to develop an infiltration system for rainwater. It will include underground basins, delay
depressions, infiltrating coatings, pipelines embankments, deep root tree stands and etc.
The utilization and cleaning of rainwater will be improved with filters, basins located above ground and
vegetation in basins. Target areas are a former military area, two streets connected to it and two fire alleys in
upper part of landscape structure and the area of Hietalahti (recreation and sporting area, hospital area) in
lower part of landscape structure. The size of catchment areas is totally about 50 hectares.
The impacts of water cycle revitalisation in exploited infrastructure and means to remove all detrimental
impacts are studied in project. The possible problems for buildings and constructions are taken care of with
insulates, underdrains, pumps or other technical solutions. The drainage pumps are using solar energy.
Test construction is used to find out how much stormwater sewer flowing can be reduced. The peak flow is
cut in to groundwater infiltration and underground water reservoirs and simultaneously the pointload of
stormwater in outlet pipes and changes to reduce it are studied. Different constructions of stone and chemical
pulp fibre cartridge filters are examined in targets. Water reservoirs are dug underneath of streets in a way
which enables to lead overspilling water in to separate infiltrationfields. The water reservoirs are used as
technical service water in irrigation, washing, freezing of icerinks and other technical purposes.
The delay and cleaning of water is increased in surfacewater basins. The capacity of the basins is calculated by
the average rain gathering rate. The annual overfloat is led in to gathering basin build in the entrance of
catchment area. The biological process in basins will raise the ph-rate of storm water. Cleaning aquatic plants
like bulrushes, sedges and willows are used in basins.
The changes in groundwater level, the amount and quality of water led away from constructions and the water
coming out from system are all monitored.
The partners in project are Greenrock ltd. and KWH-Pipe ltd.
2.2.4 The education of town councillors, employees, planners, constructors and inhabitants.
For implementation of the project idea into normal town planning and construction it is very important to
educate all the various parties concerned with matters in the city.
During the projects progress the required needs and procedures to give education in revitalisation of water
cycle are sudied.
Open colleges and workers institutes will organise motivationlectures especially for the landowners in center
area and also for inhabitants, planners and construction workers. The education for town councillors and
employees is mainly given as an internal education by the City.
The Vaasa Polytechnic will give professional education in forms of specially tailored courses for planners,
town councillors, employees and construction workers.
Seminars and workshops will be arranged in Vaasa and Abertay Dundee and participants will be town
councillors, employees and students from Vaasa polytechnic.
2.3 Scale of the project
The project is a pilot project. The idea consists of new planning and handling of rainwater in urban areas. The
aim is to find techniques in rainwater leading, using and handling, and to improve its quality before letting it
flow to the sea. The catchment areas consists of littorine valley, slope and ridge zones of the landscape
structure. A part of the target areas consists of an old military field. The total testing area is 80 ha including
various types of land use.
On the basis of the experience of this project, Vital Vaasa will continue an implemented project within the city
and the results will be used in planning and construction practise in Vaasa. The project in the future will also
include further implementation within the administrative area of the West Finland Environment Centre as a
“Vital Vaasa- Environmental Bath“ project. The Vital Vaasa project includes the revitalisation of the
watercycle in urban landscape structure from the larger project called Vaasa Vista. The partners in preparing
the research project are the Faculty of Landscape architecture at the technical university of Otaniemi and the
university of Vaasa.
2.4 Research and experience in preparing the project; feasibility studies
Vital Vaasa is a part-project from the wider urban natures revitalisation project called Vaasa Vista (see annex
4). Theme is new and the background group of project has started studies and education in project groups
which are consist of representatives of different fields. The group has worked monthly since 1996. The first
project preparation conference was held in April 1997, researching new approaches to the revitalisation of the
urban nature. Seminar had guest speakers from Sweden, Germany, Great Britain and Finland.
Collaboration to motivate and to get inhabitants involved in project was set in motion with planning of two
school yards. In these plans a landscape structure as a whole determined the new forms of the yard especially
principles for development of watermatters and vegetation.
As a theoretical background in preparing the project is used a postgraduate study by Jorma Panu at the
Architecture Faculty in University of Oulu in 1994 and studies of professor Maija Rautamäki ( University of
Technology, Otaniemi). And also methods for guarding water cycle in Germany and Sweden are used.
Examples in Germany and Sweden are mainly focused in planning and realisation of new areas. There is much
less information and experience available in already built and exploited old urban areas.
3. Anticipated results
3.1 Aims and expected results of the project
The aims are to test and develop the revitalisation of the watercycle in urban landscape structure and to create
models to handle the problems in planning and implementation bases on the target area in the centre of Vaasa.
Simultaneously, a network system with local, regional, national and international partners and participating
inhabitants will be created.
The anticipated results are better and cleaner environment in the housing and working area around the Baltic
Sea, revitalisation of the watercycle in urban environment, a learning about the process, wider co-operation
and modeling for reproduction of the results in other cities.
New methods for the revitalisation of an urban natural watercycle, infiltration systems, reuse and cleaning of
rainwater and improved preconditions for landscape structure to produce vegetation or fauna will be
developed.
3.2 Improvement through technical changes
The sewer system capacity in Vaasa today is too small to cover the local average amount of rainwater and
melting snow. With more water filtered through the soil or through the special filtrating wells there is no need
to change and enlarge the existing sewer system. This means that with the new filter system, the pipeline costs
will be less than with the old system. Today the dirty and acided rainwater from the city area is led straight
into the sea but when passed through the filters and open pools the sea water will be kept cleaner. All
measures that can be implemented for protecting the Baltic Sea are to be encouraged to avoid exacebating the
problems there.
Through the project, Vaasa will have moister soil with greater capacity for supporting flora and fauna. Air
conditions will improve as well the attractiveness of the environment as a whole, providing greater
opportunities for the social and economic welfare of the inhabitants and visitors who can use the urban space
as their living room. The previously destroyed urban structure of Vaasa based on the northern wooden town
tradition with a grid layout can partly be recovered.
The groundwater has sunk about ten meters from its original level during the past 50 years. This has caused an
aridity of soil and an artificial need for watering of vegetation. Raising of the groundwater level saves the
vegetation from drought. Increased amount of water into underground reservoirs also enables the usage of
groundwater for irrigation, washing, freezing and other technical purposes.
3.3 Foreseeable problems, uncertainties and risks regarding results
For changing the groundwater level, an accurate monitoring system is needed to avoid problems with humidity
in the constructions which have been built in recent years when the groundwater level has been low. The
balance between groundwater level suitable for the older as well as the newer constructions is very critical. In
case of any humidity problems in the constructions might occur either underdrains or pumping system for
extra water have to be built.
Also the durability of the new solutions, techniques, materials and costs needs monitoring. The monitoring
system will be implemented in the beginning of the project.
Good results in the implementation of the new technical solutions require high quality planning and work,
which therefore will be supported by networking, education, courses and information.
3.4 Innovative features of the project
The chances to rebuilt nature in already exploited environment are tested in the project. It’s based on theory of
landscape as a whole and as an organism. It will confess the needs for city functions but it will return and
strengthen partly totally new nature elements by improving ability and vitality of landscape structure
processes. Especially the new techniques and planning models are used and improved in work. The project
will create also new models for land-use planning in returning the nature in urban environment.
In this ecological renewal process all modes of networking and collaboration are used. Partners are
representing various planning and realisation levels. Inhabitants and all the others who are interested in
projects progress can follow it not only through traditional medium but also through modern Internet World
Wide Web.
The project creates new opportunities to improve the condition of Baltic Sea in local actions by introducing
new methods for cleaning urban areas water outlets. Project will look for new forms and means to exploit
rainwater and cleaning it. Project will have positive impacts on preventing acidity of the Baltic Sea especially
in littoral zones.
Reducing the amount of rainwater coming out from pipes will have impacts on preventing floods in areas
located in lower parts of catchment areas. The project will create a new values and models for developing
urban nature. In wider aspect, returning the water to “aboveground“ and in to use of vegetation will have
improving impacts on local climate and via that to the vitality and productiveness of nature.
3.5 Expected environmental benefits and costs from the project
The project will provide new methods for revitalising the watercycle in urban environment and create new
nature and ecosystems into densely built-up areas. Furthermore, it will provide new planning and land use
models for solving environmental problems in the urban area and will help to minimise impact on The Baltic
Sea. The target town, Vaasa, will get a better working and housing environment. Some costs to the
environment can be reduced.
The new disposal system for stormwater will remarkably reduce burden of water in shores located close to city
centre. Even a little reduction is noticed since receiving watercourses are very shallow. The new thinking in
stormwater drainage will result in reduction of stormwater amounts and in increase of rainwaters utilization.
3.6 Community interest of the project
The project is implementing the Fifth Environmental Action Programme of the Community and promotes
sustainable development. It supports the preparing of the LOCAL AGENDA 21, through increasing ecological
sustainability.
The project supports networking in the environment field with other organisations and various groups within
society, as well as in other EU countries and third countries.
The City of Vaasa has European partner towns with whom it maintains intensive daily contacts in Estonia
(Pärnu), Sweden (Umeå), Germany (Kiel, Schwerin), Denmark (Helsingör), Norway (Harstad), and the Czech
Republic (Sumperk). The Vital Vaasa project provides good opportunities to cooperate with some of these
partner towns as well as other towns.
The project will create models for reproduction in other EU member states. The problems that are solved
trough the project are very common in other European cities and the results can be reproduced in many kinds
of city. In the target area, it should be possible to get representative results to compare with the current
situation to establish good practice for reproduction.
4. Reproduction potential
The structure and idea of the project is easily applicable to other towns in Baltic Sea area and in Europe
because the revitalisation of water cycle is tested in extreme Nordic conditions( arid, acidid, littoranal soil,
poorly regenerating nature, cold climate and freezing) where requirements are greater than in warmer and
faster regenerating conditions. The idea will be applied in urban areas located in region administrated by West
Finland Regional Environment Centre. The first step is take thinking to the partner towns of Vaasa.
The results of project can be used in preparing LOCAL AGENDA 21 and in assessment processes for urban
nature, conditions of landscape structure and mapping of revitalisation.
5. Dissemination of results
For dissemination of the results form the project, various information channels will be used, dependant,
ultimately, on the target group. Due to the fact that one of the main expected results of the projects is to create
a large network consisting of different local, national and international groups, the dissemination of results
will be organised through mass media presentations, internet homepages, a CD-ROM, project brochures,
articles in professional journals, and through seminars and conferences.
During the lifetime of the project, three press conferences will be held. The first conference will be held
immediately after the decision of financial support by the Commission, the second will take place when
approximately half of the project period has passed and the third will take place at the end of the 35 month
duration of the project. At the local level, newspapers and radio are the most significant media, while at the
national level television is the most significant medium.
The project will have a homepage on the Internet linked to the city of Vaasa homepage. The project homepage
will be updated with new material each time significant progress in the project is completed. The Internet is
today a very important medium for information and education and can reach many different target groups all
over the world.
At the end of the project, a CD-ROM multimedia presentation will be made to be used in disseminating the
results of the project. The multimedia presentation will be designed so that it can give its user information of
results of Vital Vaasa project and/or so that it also can be used for educational purposes, especially at schools.
Three languages (Finnish, Swedish, English) will be used, so that the CD-ROM can be distributed to a wider
public. The main target for the multimedia presentation will be other European cities.
During the first six-month period, a brochure explaining the Vital Vaasa project will be printed. The brochure
will primarily be made to inform the inhabitants, companies and other parties in Vaasa, but as it is to be
produced in three languages( Finnish, Swedish, English) it is also to be distributed to other target groups, as
possible new partners at both national and international levels.
In association with different external experts, the board of the co-operators will write articles in professional
journals telling about results and progress of the project. The target group for these articles will be
professionals working with the similar problems in Finland and in other countries. The objective is to share
experiences and try to create a network of professionals in Finland.
During the progress of the project, the project partners will invite different parties to seminars and conferences
where experiences will be shared. Three seminars will be held during the project and these will have a more
local approach, with local experts and interests represented. The seminars will also be a good platform for
building up a greater local network around the project. One conference will also be held during the project.
The conference will last two days and will be targeted at experts on a national and international level. The
conference will be added to a planned conference series on the subject that has already started, with the project
Vaasa Vista, the first conference held in Vaasa on 15.-16.4.1997.
One educational visit to the target areas in Germany (Hamburg, Hannover the suburb of Kronsberg) where the
water cycle problems have been solved in the context of new densely built-up will be arranged.
Education and information of the project are also included into the communication program of Vaasa’s
European partner towns. Vaasa’s partner towns are Uumaja, Harstad, Helsingör, Pärnu, Schwerin, Kiel,
Sumperk and Malmö.
6. Work schedule
The project encompasses 6 different phases:
1. Management of the project, which is the responsibility of a board of co-operators made up of the
applicants and all co-operating parties involved with the project. A project secretary is hired to execute the
decisions made by the board of co-operators and to report to the Commission. On-site supervision will be
undertaken with the help of City of Vaasa Employees.
2. Dissemination of information is the responsibility of the project secretary who will be assisted in this task
by the board of co-operators. External assistance will be used in some parts of the dissemination task, such as
technical assistance with multimedia and Internet applications.
3. Terrainmodel and the examination of groundwater, soil and bedrock which are to be used during the
project. The groundwater survey is of vital interest for the project and the results are to be used in town
planning in future. A digital map of geohydrological conditions (including underground constructions and
pipings) will be made. The mapping will be carried out by the employees from the Technical Department of
the city of Vaasa and partly by a consultant company called Maa ja Vesi Oy provided on contract.
4. The planning of a littorine valley is one of the most challenging task in this project. The valley basin goes
through the most exploited area of the city and very intensive planning is needed to produce a plan in
accordance with the project idea. The planning will therefore be carried out by the Town Planning Office of
city of Vaasa with assistance of the faculties in landscaping and water technology of Helsinki University of
Technology.
5. Restoration of water cycle in two urban catchment areas will be carried out by the Technical Department of the
City of Vaasa and on contract. The main focus will be on leading the rain water on the ground (instead of by pipelines
into the sea) via new absorbing or green areas and continuing to groundwater. The testing of new techniques for rain
water disposal will testing of filter materials for the wells and ponds cooperating with private enterprises GreenRock
and KWH-Pipe. The quality of the rain water is measured by Vaasa Environment Laboratory.
6. Education of town councillors, employees, designers, constructors and inhabitants is of great importance for the
implementation of this project and in promoting its aim. Through the education of different groups within the city, the
aims of the project will be implemented as a normal part of decision-making and planning in the future. The education
will be carried out in three different ways. The employees of the City of Vaasa who are directly involved with planning
and building in the city, designers and constructors will receive education from Vaasa Polytechnic- a founding partner
of the project. Inhabitants, representatives of the housing companies and Vaasa city councillors will have the
opportunity to take courses both at the city’s Finnish-language adult education institute and its Swedish-language adult
education institute (some 26% of the inhabitants of Vaasa are Swedish speaking).
Unavoidable difficulties imposed by the climate in Vaasa, such as harsh winters with soil frost usually from December
to April, were taken into consideration when planning the project schedule.