Kaia Oras: water is the best color, smell and taste

Kaia Oras, head of the statistical office, stated on March 23, 2023, that water is the best color, smell, and taste. According to Oras, pure water is essential for life and has historically influenced the location of settlements in Estonia. The country’s relative prosperity is linked to the availability and accessibility of water resources.

However, Estonia’s water consumption is high, placing it 11th within the European Union in terms of water consumption intensity. Groundwater quality is impacted by pollutants originating from agricultural land, legacy leaks from mines in Ida-Viru, and runoff from urban areas. Over the past decade, the effects of urban runoff have lessened due to the construction of new sewage treatment plants and networks.

Secondary wastewater treatment is considered the most environmentally friendly treatment method, though it is not universally suitable for sensitive areas. Eighty-three percent of Estonian households are connected to secondary wastewater treatment, ranking 16th among the 16 member states of the European Union. Denmark holds the highest rate at 95%.

Over the past two decades, several European nations, including Cyprus, Germany, and the Netherlands, have significantly increased wastewater treatment coverage. Estonia’s connection rate varies regionally, ranging from 94% in the north to 68% in the south.

Topics: #water #kaia #oras