Dutch-Finnish Collaboration on Water Quality

The Advisory Group exchanges knowledge and experiences, and provides advice to the government and drinking water companies. The visit, organised in collaboration with Finnish partners, focused on drinking water quality, scientific innovation, and regulatory frameworks, bringing together leading minds from both countries to tackle shared challenges in water quality.

Day 1: HSY – Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority and Aalto University

The first full day started with presentations at HSY – Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority. Most of the raw water for the Helsinki metropolitan area comes from Lake Päijänne by a tunnel running over more than 120 kilometers. HSY uses several treatment processes, including membrane filtration and activated carbon, and is currently exploring seawater desalination. In the afternoon, the group headed to Helsinki University for a joint seminar with Helsinki One Health and Aalto University:  “Shaping Clean Water for the Future – Dutch and Finnish Perspectives”. 

The event opened with a Water Quality session chaired by Tarja Pitkänen and Renske Hoondert. Key highlights included: Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in drinking water systems by Gertjan Medema (KWR) and Molecular methods for assessing surface water hygiene by Annastiina Rytkönen (University of Helsinki). Milou Dingemans (KWR) & Heiko Teuber (Het Waterlaboratorium) focused on Chemical risks, bioassays, and effect-directed analysis. Elin Lavonen (Aalto University) presented on effect-based monitoring in Sweden and Finland.  

After a coffee break, the Future Needs and Challenges session featured Rona Vink (Evides): Pilot research for next-gen drinking water purification and Raed Al-Juboori (Aalto University): Advanced oxidation processes for emerging treatment needs. Then, a panel discussion on translating research into practice, moderated by Anna Mikola (Aalto University) and Stefan Kools (KWR), focused on implementing scientific insights into real-world water treatment to ensure safe, sustainable drinking water.  

The day concluded with a visit to the Finnish Water Utilities Association (FIWA), where participants mingled during a social event. FIWA is the co-operation and member association of the Finnish water and wastewater utilities.  

Day 2: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

This day focused on European water legislation, as the delegation visited the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for an in-depth session on European water legislation. The meeting included a series of presentations on the Drinking Water Directive (DWD). ECHA experts outlined the agency’s mandate, introduced the first European positive list, and explained the application process and information requirements for DWD submissions. A dedicated Q&A session allowed participants to clarify regulatory details and discuss practical implications. The second part of the meeting addressed the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, with updates on recent and ongoing developments.  

After the visit to ECHA, the delegation visited the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) for an in-depth exchange on public health and water safety. The session began with a laboratory tour showcasing THL’s research on illicit drugs in wastewater and offering a glimpse into the institute’s advanced analytical capabilities. This was followed by a session of presentations, including an introduction to THL’s role in overseeing and guiding local health authorities in Finland, followed by a presentation on waterborne outbreaks and contamination events in Finland and the increasing occurrence over the years, offering insights into vulnerabilities in the drinking water systems (ageing infrastructure) and in Finland’s response strategies. Robin van Leerdam (RIVM) shared perspectives on national water quality monitoring in the Netherlands.  

The discussion then turned to contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), for example those related to mining activities, with THL highlighting current research and detection methods. Regulatory aspects were addressed by presenters from Valvira and the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, who explained Finland’s legislative framework for water quality. Tarja Pitkänen (THL) provided an overview of the development of microbiological methods at THL, while Hilde Prummel (WLN) introduced the use of RT-PCR in water quality analysis in the Netherlands. 

Day 3: Autumn Meeting of the Dutch Advisory Group on Water Quality

During this meeting, members exchanged ideas to discuss current water quality issues. The group discussed follow up on analytical techniques for detecting several compounds of concern and PCR methods for detecting microbial species. The meeting continued with a series of updates and announcements from RIVM and Vewin, labs, companies and KWR. It was concluded that this three-day program highlighted the importance of international cooperation in securing clean and safe drinking water. Through shared expertise, innovative research, and open dialogue, Dutch and Finnish professionals are paving the way for resilient water systems in the face of emerging challenges.  

Special thanks

The Advisory Group on Water Quality expressed a heartfelt thank you to our Finnish hosts for their generous hospitality and expert contributions throughout the visit. From the insightful sessions at HSY, ECHA, THL, and FIWA to the collaborative seminar at Helsinki University (in collaboration with Aalto University and Finland One Health) their openness and engagement made this exchange both productive and inspiring. Special thanks to Tarja Pitkänen, Sallamaari Siponen, Heli Härkki, Panu Laurell, Anna Mikola, Panagiotis Zarogiannis, Riku Vahala, and all colleagues from FIWA, HSY, ECHA, Aalto University, Valvira, THL and the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for sharing their knowledge and helping shape the future of water quality together.