Petri Juuti

Environmental History of Water - Global views on community water supply and sanitation

Contents: Part One: Early Systems and Innovations Part Two: Period of Slow Development Part Three: Modern Urban Infrastructure Part Four: Future Challenges in Water Supply and Sanitation Services and Environmental Health

Water pollution control and strategies in Finnish pulp and paper industries in the 20th century

This paper discusses and analyses the evolution of the Finnish pulp and paper industries and their water pollution control strategies. The Finnish pulp and paper mills are mainly located along water courses in inland areas. The earliest documents on water pollution date back to the early 1900s. In spite of the remarkably good record during recent decades in water pollution control, it can be found among significant strategic decisions in only very few cases.

Revisiting private water proposals and concessions of the 1870 and 1880s in Finland

Abstract The paper questions the ethics of buying and reselling the concessions of water undertakings at the expense of consumer-owners. In Tampere, in 1866, an industrialist proposed a concession which would have provided him a good guaranteed return with the town assuming all risks. In Helsinki, in 1871, a concession of 75 years was signed with a private businessman. He did not even try to start operations but sold the concession further to a German company making a fortune. Due to the European-wide recession, the city bought back the concession. In 1885, the same entrepreneur got the horse-driven tram concession—tried this time to operate it but was unsuccessful. Some 110 years later several donors started to promote the idea of water concessions and other private operating contracts as a “new innovation.” By the early 21st century, it became clear that private water multinationals are not willing to take the risk of making such investments in developing and transition economies. Before making such strategic decisions cities should make proper feasibility studies and compare the pros and cons of various options.

Water Services Management and Governance

This book is divided in to four key sections relating to governance frameworks, technology and socio-ecological interactions, government and governance, and long terms policies. The chapters analyse the complexity of the water services sector based on a historical analysis of developments within the sector. The underlying conviction is that only by understanding past trends, processes and developments can the current situation in the water services be understood. Only through this understanding can policies for sustainable water services in the future be formulated. The four key sections relate to governance frameworks, technology and socio-ecological interactions, government and governance, and long terms policies.nnWater Services Management and Governance raises awareness that an understanding of the past is a necessity to explore potential, probable and preferable futures. It is an essential basis for water sector reforms in any country, region or community. The book is written for experts in water utilities, ministries, municipalities, NGOs, donor agencies, private companies and regulators; as well as students and researchers in water policy and governance, and the management of water resources, services and infrastructure.nnThis title belongs to Governance and Management for Sustainable Water Systems Series .nnISBN: 9781780400730 (eBook)nnISBN: 9781780400228 (Print)

An Early Attempt To Privatize—Any Lessons Learned?

Water supply and sanitation has been subject to policy changes over previous decades. In the 1960s, interest was focused merely on technology, and in the 1970s on socalled “appropriate or low-cost technology.” In the 1980s, social issues were emphasized, and by the end of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD), it was gradually accepted that the services must be paid for. In the 1990s, environmental concerns have been brought up, as well as the acute need for institutional development (ID). One of the latest ideas is to promote privatization of water services (Hukka and Katko, 1999). Through a historical case this paper presents a critical view of privatization efforts, particularly in urban water services. The subject of this case study is the city of Tampere and the evolution of its water works from 1835 to 1998 (Juuti, 2001; Juuti and Katko, 1998). Presently, Tampere is the largest inland city in the Nordic countries and the third largest city in Finland with a population of nearly 200,000 people. The city was established in 1779 along the rapids between two lakes, with an elevation difference of 18 metres. The city used to be the major industrial center of the country in the 19 century. In Finnish, the city is often called “Manse” referring to her big sister and industrial center, Manchester, England. After being a part of Sweden for some 600 to 700 years, in 1809 Finland became a Grand Dutchy of Russia before gaining her independence in 1917. The time of the case study, 1860 to the1880s, presents a period of awakening of the Finnish national spirit, the beginning of industrialization, construction of basic infrastructure, as well as development of municipal administration. The first known attempt to organize urban water supply in Finland was made in Tampere in 1835. The system used a German-made iron pump and a wooden gravity pipe from the upper lake to the downtown area. Yet, the amount of water produced was insufficient and had a questionable taste and odor. Thereafter, several proposals were made to build a water system, particularly due to the risk of severe fires. Traditionally, houses and buildings in Finland, contrary to the bigger cities on the European continent, were made of wood. For instance, three fourths of the former capital of Turku was burnt down in 1827 forcing the University to move to Helsinki.

A Case for Strong Municipal Governance: The Water Supply of Pretoria 1855–1935

Abstract The city of Pretoria, South Africa, was found at an artesian water source, exceptional in quality and quantity – its only source from 1855 until 1935. Despite being supplied so abundantly, Pretoria suffered the same problems with water supply and sanitation that were evident elsewhere in South Africa. This was due to deficiencies in municipal government. When the town was founded, it was managed by a magistrate, appointed by and reporting to the central government. The main reason for the unhygienic environment was the lack of clear authority in the nineteenth century. After 1903 the situation improved rapidly when the municipality, under the direction of a competent city engineer, could focus on improving its infrastructure. The limit of the water source in Fountains Valley was reached only in the 1920s, which forced the municipality to limit the lavish consumption of water by the Pretoria residents. This led to the introduction of comprehensive metering in 1927, which only curtailed the consumption by 15 per cent – much less than hoped for. The wasteful water use practices of Pretoria were not easily eradicated and a new water scheme had to be hastily built to augment the citys water supply.

Many Ps Needed for Sustainable Water Services Expansion of the Scope of Public–Private Partnerships

This research note discusses the commonly used concept of public-private partnerships (PPPs) promoted particularly by international financial bodies in water and sanitation services during the past few years. The article argues that the scope of PPPs, which now includes only private operators, should be expanded. The article proposes a related list of policies, principles, and practices with selected priorities for viable and sustainable water and sanitation services. They must be assessed in a long-term perspective rather than in a historical vacuum.