During the PURE project a new user-friendly database is established, that will

• monitor the level of performance and technology used and nutrient inputs from municipalities in the Baltic Sea region;
• assist in updating of the HELCOM PLC database regarding municipal waste water treatment, thus also contributing to the revision of the HELCOM BSAP country-wise nutrient reduction targets;
• be an easy-access tool for municipalities encouraging to benchmarking and improvements;
• facilitate matchmaking between financiers, policymakers and waste water treatment plants lacking funding for investments needed and
• promote the use of loading data and phosphorus removal also for e.g. ecosystem modeling.

The database will be built on the experiences from UBC Member Cities Sustainable development surveys and the newly established UBC good practice database. In setting up the database PURE partner Mariehamn town shares its experiences of database management. The water utilities that are PURE project partners are promoted as exemplary in their work for better water management.

The broader objective is to increase awareness and promote the good results achieved so far in the waste water treatment in the Baltic Sea region. This is carried out by creating a new concept of HELCOM Green list of the best implemented practices in waste water treatment. The main qualification for a municipality or a water utility to get on the list is to voluntarily reach the HELCOM recommendations in waste water treatment as agreed by the HELCOM Contracting Parties in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan in 2007.

Photo: Järve Biopuhastus OU