VIRIKE – risks in Finnish water supply

The risk management practices used by water supply facilities and key stakeholders in Finland were reviewed and challenges evaluated in the VIRIKE project. The outcome of the project indicates that the level of risk management varies significantly in Finland. Every fourth water supply facility of the project’s questionnaire respondents has not done any risk evaluation.

According to the final report, the greatest challenges for the Finnish water supply industry are:

• comprehensive risk management of the manifold activities, like industry, transportation and land use, taking place near the watershed
• improving the risk awareness  and implementing systematic risk management approaches for water supply companies  
• ensuring that connections, piping and water systems within older buildings  meet required  standards and are maintained appropriately

The VIRIKE project was funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the National Emergency Supply Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Water Supply Facility Development Fund and the Ministry of Environment.

More information available at the VIRIKE web site (in Finnish)

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