Groundwater

Groundwater areas on the map

Groundwater protection

Groundwater is almost everywhere in the soil. In some areas, it is especially abundant, and these areas are classified as Class I-III groundwater areas. In the Imatra region, groundwater areas are located mainly in Salpausselkä I and II. The location of settlements, industry and the most important traffic routes in the same areas poses a risk to groundwater. Southeast Finland's ELY Center has, together with stakeholders, drawn up Southeast Finland's water management action plan for surface and groundwater for the years 2016–2021. It presents risk areas, investigation targets and measures to protect groundwater. A new program and a reclassification of groundwater areas are in progress at the ELY Center of Southeast Finland.

The environmental department of the Imatra region is responsible for the protection of groundwater, e.g. by placing regulations on the protection or monitoring of groundwater in environmental permits. The environmental protection regulations of the municipalities also have provisions related to the protection of groundwater. In Parikkala, Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti, the environmental action implemented the groundwater protection plan project 2014-2015 funded by the Ministry of the Environment and the municipalities. 

In Imatra, the Vesioronkangas Class I groundwater area is home to several operations that pose a risk to groundwater quality. However, the area has a thick layer of sand that protects the groundwater. The groundwater protection plan for Vesioronkangas was updated in 2014. In 2018, a joint groundwater monitoring plan was prepared for Vesioronkangas as a thesis. There have been activities in Korvenkanta's Class I groundwater area that have left a mark on the groundwater quality.

There are many small groundwater areas in Parikkala. The most important groundwater area is Heralampi on the border of Parikkala and Punkaharju, in the direction of Oronmylly. The municipality's main water intake is located in the area, and the groundwater is of very good quality. Other important groundwater areas in terms of water intake are the Suurikangas groundwater area in Kirjavalansalo and the Särkisalmi groundwater area. In the action program of the Vuoksi watershed's water management plan for the years 2016–2021, two risk groundwater areas in Parikkala are mentioned: the Likolampi and Simpele (part in Rautjärvi) groundwater areas.

There are a total of 10 groundwater areas in Rautjärvi, of which Laikko, Tulilampi and Simpele are Class I groundwater areas. Laikko is a large groundwater area, which in the future may also be of provincial importance in water procurement. The municipality's water intakes are located in the Tulilampi and Simpele groundwater areas. Groundwater areas at risk are the Simpele, Änkilä and Laikko groundwater areas.

In the large and water-rich Ruokolahti municipality, there are approx. 40 groundwater areas. The municipality's water intakes are located in Lampsiinlampi and Oritlampi class I groundwater areas. The largest and most productive groundwater area is called II Salpauselkä. The area is located on the second Salpauselkä and it starts from Syyspohja and continues all the way to Taipalsaari Kyläniemi. This groundwater area belongs to class II, i.e. groundwater areas suitable for water procurement. There are no risk groundwater areas in Ruokolahti.