Finland: Water quality mostly good in lakes and coastal areas – but more problems in the Gulf of Finland

A new version of the national quality classification of surface water bodies has now been published. This classification, based on data from the period 2000-2003, gives information on the development of the status of waters in large lakes, rivers and sea areas. No major changes in water quality can be seen in lakes while the state of rivers has in some cases improved and in some cases deteriorated. The condition of sea areas has clearly deteriorated compared with the former classification based on data from the period 1994-1997. This is mostly due to eutrophication in the Gulf of Finland, in the Archipelago Sea and in the vicinity of some river mouths in the Gulf of Bothnia.  Read more...