The significance of natural waters in Salpausselkä geopark project

Abstract

One of the main purposes of this thesis was to study the natural waters of the Salpausselkä area in Päijät-Häme and describe the problems and factors affecting water quality. Salpausselkä geopark is applying for UNESCO's Global Geopark status, and the one main theme of the geopark could be natural watercourses. The aim of this thesis was to collect information on the significant natural water bodies in Päijät- Häme. From global perspective, water quality and water safety in Finland are very good. In Finland, water quality is monitored by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, together with the Finnish Environment Institute. The main focus is on monitoring the status of watercourses. One of the important measures for monitoring water status is sampling. Water samples show the chemical properties of water, which are also discussed in this work. Päijät-Häme region has plenty of valuable surface and groundwater areas, which have improved in recent years. Examples of these are the good quality of Lake Päijänne and the satisfactory quality of Lake Vesijärvi. The water quality of Lake Päijänne is already under pressure due to its importance in the distribution of drinking water. While the purpose of geopark is not to act as a protective programme, it is essential to understand the importance of natural waters and their global impact. When water resources are decreasing in the world, it is becoming increasingly important to maintain their well-being and international cooperation to improve the global water situation.